Currents Magazine Fall 2020: Humans of Pepperdine

Page 54

A New Way of Communication: How Social Media Shapes Interactions by Emily Morton Art by Ally Armstrong

Photo courtesy of Geoffrey Leong

LOL, <3,

OMG, g2g,

&

These messaging symbols and acronyms have infiltrated their way into the human experience and the relationships humans hold. LOL signifies humor, <3 signifies love, OMG represents shock and g2g means ‘got to go.’ Even facial expressions can now be exchanged online with emojis, representing a smile, a kiss or even a hug. But do virtual XOXOs feel the same as real ones?

53

“Face-to-face is to be able to enjoy and savor the moment together,” Public Relations Professor Klive Oh said.

2

Face-to-face interaction cannot be recreated

Computer-mediated communication is communication that occurs through electronic devices or via computers. While computer-mediated communication breaks through the barriers of time and


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.