Computer mediated communication is a very broad term, and its meaning is changing with the technological evolution that is occurring on almost a daily basis. Internet offers a myriad ways of interaction between people, but text based messaging is still the most common form of communication., partly because it's the most interactive form and is the most engaging and text based messaging has been the foundation on which modern forms of online communication have been built. The impact of computer mediated communication has long been a topic of discussion among many researchers. It has had its influence on almost all spheres of life, mental health and social interactions. It has had a very profound impact on people in working in various organizations. Despite its utility, it remains a fact, that computer mediated communication is still a highly selective medium and is no match to the richness of the face to face communication.
Experience in computer mediated communication affects mental health and social interactions in a positive manner .
The question of whether the use of internet damages mental health and social interactions has been at the center of research since the very inception of the internet itself. In Kraut et al.'s (1998) study of longitudinal adoption, an experiment was conducted by taking a sample of 93 families. "Kraut and his colleagues tracked these families, who previously did not have computer or internet use at home, over a period of 2 years, starting in 1995. The results of the study indicated that increased use of internet was associated with an increase in scores on self administered measure of general depression" (Knapp and Daly 543). Increased use of internet was also responsible for reduction in the amount of interaction with family members and close friends. Similarly in another study, Nie and Erbring conducted a survey of 4113 Internet users and found that the more time individuals spend online, the less time they spend with family members in face to face or telephone communication (Knapp and Daly 543).
