When Brenna studies in France for a semester, she will need to use technology to maintain her intimate relationships in the U.S. What challenges will she face, and how can she use technology to her advantage?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answers will vary, but may focus on the more interactive technologies (instant messaging, text-messaging, Facebook chatting, and Skype) as ones which improve upon mediated messages because individuals can respond much faster than typically possible in an email exchange, reducing the asynchronicity.
Additionally:
• If Brenna has a romantic partner—or if she develops a long-distance romantic relationship—they will look for the same elements as face-to-face romantic partners to enhance their relational satisfaction: trust, intimacy, and communication satisfaction.
• Skype has become extremely popular to lessen the negative effects of being apart, as the participants have a virtual face-to-face conversation with one another. Therefore, the nonverbal aspects of communication are enhanced.
• With electronic messages that are asynchronous, Brenna has the advantage of polishing her messages.
• The online disinhibition effect can work for or against Brenna. On the plus side, it can allow her to reveal more private information than she may feel comfortable revealing in face-to-face communication. On the negative, she may find her disinhibition toxic, where her messages are nastier than she may feel comfortable expressing in person.