Introduction [excerpt] As humans, we tend to be social creatures and because of our social nature we are inclined to want to create and sustain relationships. It is no surprise then that when the Internet emerged people found ways to utilize this new medium to communicate with one another. By transcending the elements of time and location, Computer Mediated Communiciation (CMC) has forever changed the way in which people communicate. CMC is thought to be weak in comparison to face to face (FTF) communication...

Abstract The aim of this study was to explore the quality and credibility of personal relationships in a CMC environment, as well as examine the emergence of information overload as a byproduct of interpersonal communication that takes place in a virtual atmosphere, namely through the pervasive use of e-mail. Through its use and acceptance, communication behavior in the 21st Century looks completely different than it did 50 years ago. Basic to the research is an understanding of the differences...