New forms of personal connection

In the first chapter, Baym briefly discusses how communication used to be, then moves on to how communication is used today, as well as some effects from digital media usage. Communication used to require communicators to be in the same physical space in order to communicate. In order for people to exchange messages they had to be physically co-present. Communication remained this way until the invention of the telegraph in the 1800's. The telegraph allowed real-time communication across long distances for the first time, collapsing time and space. The allowance of communication without having to be physically present has paved the way for technologies such as the internet (although the internet wasn't created for interactivity) and the mobile phone. There have never been more ways to communicate with one another than there are now. Along with new possibilities of communication comes effects, whether positive or negative, that arise from these new technologies. 

Digital media is either synchronous or asynchronous. Synchronous communication is rapid communication that occurs in real time such as: face to face conversations, instant messages, and phone calls. Asynchronous communication is communication that has time delays between messages such as: email and voicemail. Communication that occurs by the separation of presence, whether asynchronous or synchronous, offers us more control in our social worlds, but at the same time allows us to be controlled. New media offers us "volume control," allowing us to regulate who we interact with, avoid interactions, and manipulate our interactions. However, not only does this allow us to manipulate our social interactions, but it can also allow others to manage us more strategically as well. Another issue that Baym points out when discussing the effects that new media offers, is the expectation that we can be reached for communication at anytime, or anywhere. Some people may see this as a good thing, while others may view this as an intrusion of privacy. Baym goes on to discussing how synchronous and asynchronous media can become intertwined, and the effects that can arise. "The challenge of absent presence" is an effect of synchronous communication such as text messaging. Although we may be physically present in one space, we may also be mentally engaged elsewhere. In S. Craig Watkins article, The Very Well Connected: Friending, Bonding, and Community in the Digital Age, he uses the phrase "absence in presence" to refer to being somewhere physically, but not mentally due to the usage of technology. He says that even if you are completely tuned out and seem to be antisocial, you are also expanding your sense of space and being social if you are in fact communicating with others through the technology. For instance, if you are texting someone while at a family dinner, you are physically present with your family but you are engaged with the person you are texting. Although you are being anti-social by not conversing with your family, one could argue that you are being social by communicating with others via text message. 

This chapter is very informative and paves the way for the rest of the book. Concepts are introduced that are continuously used throughout the book by various example and citations from other authors. Baym cites many different terms coined by other authors in order to more effectively get her point across to the reader.