By definition, computer-mediated communication (CMC) is communication about or by means of computer technology (Thurlow, Lengel, & Tomic, 2004). The transition of computers from highly specialized technology to personal possessions contributed to the increase in investigations relating to CMC (Thurlow, Lengel, & Tomic, 2004). The study of CMC has been widely applied, allowing for discussions of all forms of human communication via the means of a computer. Some of those disciplines through which CMC has been studied include psychology (Gackenbach & Ellerman, 1998; Kiesler, Siegel, & McGuire, 1984), politics (Dahlberg, 2001; Hacker & van Dijk, 2000), and education (Berge & Collins, 1995; McComb, 1994). In addition, CMC has also been widely studied …show more content…
Previous research has indicated that non-profit organizations could reach larger groups of stakeholders through use of the Internet and social technologies. The research found that utilization of new technologies would allow non-profit organizations to move beyond their traditional groups of volunteers and broaden their reach to a younger, more socially mobile demographic (Allen, Warwick, & Stein, 1996). Despite the apparent lag in non-profit organizations’ adoption of new technologies, previous research still indicated that non-profits would benefit just as much as for-profit organizations from the implementation of new communication technologies (Boeder, 2002; Curtis et al., 2010; Saxton & Game, 2001).
Social Media. One such new technology that has begun to be adopted into organizational communication is social media. Social media are forms of CMC that allow for social interaction (Kietzmann et al., 2011). Social media are interactive platforms that facilitate human communication, information sharing, creation, and commentary (Kietzmann et al.,