Interpersonal communication refers to the exchange of information between and among people. This form of communication is significant as it facilitates the exchange of thoughts and ideas as well as acts as a medium through which individuals communicate their feelings and emotions face to face. Similarly, interpersonal communication plays a crucial role in the linkage of constructive understanding and culture and incorporates both oral and non-verbal form of communication (Wood, 2014). Media, however, has shaped a significant share of interpersonal communication. With this in mind, this essay aims at exploring the interplay of interpersonal communication and media. As a result, it will analyze the role, which the media plays in shaping interpersonal communication.
Interpersonal Communication and Mass Media
Mass media has been utilized globally in the dissemination of information due to its appeal and cost-effective nature as well as its broad outreach. As a result, most of the ideas in mass media are usually reflected and retold in an interpersonal context. The recipients of this information are fond of chatting about the presented topics in the media (Southwell, " Yzer, 2007). Interpersonal communication thus prevalently acts as a linkage between the process of agenda-setting and its impacts on perception salience.
Additionally, the consumption of media, especially in family-rated discussions, depict the social meaning of interpersonal communication. These discussions mostly make sense when the complexity of the presented information becomes clear as it is being discussed and scrutinized on a daily basis.
The extent to which individuals converse with relations to various news may foster or weaken the initial message depending on the personal interest of the conversing agents and the nature of the conservation. Furthermore, these interpersonal dialogues comprise of individuals who support the conception of the media coverage transforming more profound enhancement and understanding of the memory with regards to the content of the news. For instance, the incorporation of these factors is a precise prediction of the individuals’ political knowledge: personal communication, which involves integrative discussion regarding the context of the news, the mental capacity of the individual to process stories and the awareness of the conversation (Wood, 2014). As an example, when the political talks are the main aspects of the news coverage in the media, the presentation of this news usually have profound impacts on sensitive political understanding among the recipients.
Television News Reception and Interpersonal Communication
The way in which television news is presented as well as the resulting attention, activation and processing capacity of the news have a crucial role in the reception of the news. The criteria at which this news are selected and presented results to the trickling of the news into interpersonal communication with regards to some news dynamics and values. Moreover, the articulation of the TV news content in the interpersonal communication, as well as social groups discourse, enhances the retention of the news. Therefore, social contacts usually base their discussions on the news, which is a significant element in fostering the memory and internalization of the news content.
Social Media and Interpersonal Communication
The impact of social media on interpersonal communication is profound all through the age groups in the contemporary society. Social media effects especially in the manner in which individuals associate across platforms has shown an incredible shift in their interaction. It has allowed people to become more social and interactive (Sommer, 2013). This mode of communication has attained a global acceptance among the Millennials. In connection with the role of social media in interpersonal communication, the subsequent issues stand out.
The nature of the interactions is in a way that parties involved incline to group themselves based on some similar opinions. Consequently, a person using these media to communicate may lack the aspect of diversity’s point of views.
The discussion in the social media tends to develop the trust in the communicating parties. Consequently, the message gradually becomes open.
The social form of interaction lacks the sense of connection, and thus not useful in strengthening relationships.
Social media has had a tremendous and a remarkable reception in the last ten years. This has made it well positioned in penetrating deeper to the interpersonal communication, and thus people may continue to depend on such connections, which are built on social platform although they might pose the danger of weak bonds.
According to the dynamics of interpersonal influence in communication, based on social psychology, mutual affirmation and persuasion mechanisms are prevalent. These processes are significant in the shaping up of the knowledge, attitudes, actions, and emotions of an individual. During social media interactions, people often discuss issues, which have been depicted in the mass media. As a result, these discussions are usually ascertained by the informational and normative influence of the interactions (Sommer, 2013). Therefore, the effects of these interactions are profound primarily on the attitude, knowledge, and judgment of an individual and thus social media conversations can be said to influence media.
Other Roles Played By Media in Interpersonal Communications
Bonding among interacting parties: Media can bring people together in the discussions of particular topics in the news. For instance, parties with similar tastes and value usually come together to share their opinions and views in connection with specific concerns thus fostering bond among them as they engage in interpersonal communication.
Source of information: Media can provide different materials that can be used to reduce uncertainties, as well as curiosity. Over the last decades, the news media has grown magnificently to a massive store of information (Yang, " Stone, 2003). This saturation of media outlet has profoundly decentralized various sources to the extent that some reports are considered inaccurate, premature or partial.
Break of monotony: Individuals engage in arguments and discussion regarding different news events, which are of interest to them and their interpersonal skills. Media, therefore, acts as a channel for diversion and breaking the boredom of the daily routines. Furthermore, media provide the means of relaxation and amusement.
Media as an educational tool: Media can function as an interactive device for enlightening people. Most media outlets serve as informational tools that have broad and comprehensive content coverage (Wood, 2014). Others contain educational content such as science and discovery channels and therefore have an instruction function to interpersonal communications.
Conclusion
Evidently, the role of media in interpersonal communication is central among people regardless of various factors such as race, opinion, or age. Moreover, media is a daily outlet for news and thus present everyday matters that are utilized by individuals as ideas in facilitating interpersonal interactions. However, media stimuli often evoke the interactive nature of thoughts and emotions in these communication setups. As a result, media is a crucial component and plays a vital role in interpersonal communication.
References
Sommer, D. (2013). Media effects, interpersonal communication and beyond: An experimental approach to study conversations about the media and their role in news reception.
Southwell, B. G., " Yzer, M. C. (2007). The roles of interpersonal communication in mass media campaigns. Annals of the International Communication Association, 31(1), 420-462.
Wood, J. (2014). Interpersonal communication - everyday encounters (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Wadsworth Publishing.
Yang, J., " Stone, G. (2003). The powerful role of interpersonal communication in agenda setting. Mass Communication and Society, 6(1), 57-74.
