Social Information Processing Theory (SIP)

• According to the SIP theory, the lack of nonverbal cues in many forms of CMC causes slower SD
• Relationships develop at a slower pace via CMC but eventually reach equivalent levels of development as FtF relationships
• Individuals adapt to the lack of nonverbal cues in CMC by verbally exchanging more relational information than they would FtF
• SD is expected to be higher in CMC than FtF - it functions to facilitate relationship development and decrease uncertainty in the absence of nonverbal cues
• Proposes that SD is higher in MC because it is needed to replace absent nonverbal and contextual information
• SIP has higher breadth, depth and frequency