From face-to-face to cyberspace: examining the impact of instant messaging within already established face-to-face relationships

Paper presented at the Eastern Communication Association conference, Boston, MA.Although numerous studies have investigated the formation of relationships through computer-mediated communication (CMC), their focus has remained on new relationships, formed anonymously through the Internet. This article covers new ground, looking at relationships that are first established face-to-face (FtF), then evolve to include CMC, specifically through the use of America Online’s Instant Messenger service (AIM). Because CMC differs inherently from FtF communication, it seems important to determine if AIM users are able to harmoniously combine online interaction with offline conceptions of their conversational partners. This theoretical model explains various characteristics of CMC and their influences on the specific characteristics of messages that occur over AIM. Further analysis will combine these factors using several perspectives in interpersonal communication, and finally attempt to associate AIM use with positive or negative relational outcomes, specifically the degree of conflict within the relationship