Abstract
In text messaging with mobile phones and smartphones, many users face pressure to rapidly reply. Despite the increasing importance of mobile text-messaging, few studies have examined reply speed. This article focused on the speed of interaction in text messaging via smart phone applications (especially those with read receipt functions). It was suggested that the speed of exchange and read receipt status can serve as operable nonverbal cues to the sender of the message. Toward the aim of effective communication via text messaging using smartphones, we propose future directions in examining the strategic use of speed of interaction and read receipts.
TopBackground
Early studies of Internet-related psychology cited a lack of nonverbal cues and visual anonymity as characteristics of text-based communication on PCs (Joinson, 2003). A number of studies on CMC have discussed these characteristics of text-based CMC exchanges in terms of the absence of facial expressions, gestures, and nonverbal cues such as tone of voice that are involved in face-to-face conversation (Kiesler, Siegel, & McGuire, 1984). These characteristics form the basis of various models and theories in CMC research conducted prior to the 1990s. For example, the social presence model (Short, Williams, & Christie, 1976) posited that when media conveys little nonverbal information, the sense of the other party as an actual person becomes less distinct—resulting in cold, impersonal communication. In media selection, media richness theory (Daft & Lengel, 1984; Daft & Lengel, 1986) recommended using rich media that can transmit information sufficient for unequivocal communication. The cuelessness model states that because CMC lacks the nonverbal cues that are present in face-to-face communication, communication tends to become task-oriented rather than socioemotional (Rutter, 1984; Rutter, 1987; Rutter, Stephenson, & Dewey, 1981). The reduced social cues approach says that in CMC lacking nonverbal information, users experience depersonalization, which results in uninhibited communications and consequently a higher probability of behaviors that are outside of social norms (McGuire, Kiesler, & Siegel, 1987; Siegel, Dubrovsky, Kiesler, & McGuire, 1986; Sproull & Kiesler, 1986).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Read Receipt Status: A read receipt function automatically informs the sender that the recipient has read the message.
Digital Natives: Digital natives are born into an information/communications technology environment where the Internet, email, and mobile phones are commonly used.
Digital Immigrants: Digital immigrants are the generations preceding digital natives, who initially used traditional media before gradually adopting new ICTs and services as they became available.
LINE Application: LINE is an instant messenger that is similar to other internet-based messengers, such as WhatsApp, and is the most-downloaded social media/messenger application in Japan. The application was released in June 2011, following the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011, with the aim of creating an application where users can easily communicate even in the event of a disaster. In Japan, LINE has come to replace traditional mobile text messaging services (including SMS), especially among young people.
Speed of Reply: Although text messaging can easily exchange text messages, its users typically expect faster replies than with cell phone text messaging. In fact, the act of periodically checking one’s smartphone for incoming messages happens daily.
Unread Receipt Status: An unread receipt function automatically informs the sender that the recipient has not read the message.
Stickers: The sticker is a newer graphical element similar to emoji or emoticons that conveys emotional state, attitude, and opinion and is a small illustration that is sent in place of a message. The sticker originated as an attachment in LINE, but by 2013, Facebook Messenger was equipped with similar features, followed by Facebook timeline in 2014. In 2016, iMessage for iPhone added sticker functionality.