Key Terms

Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) - refers to human communication via computers and includes many different forms of synchronous, asynchronous or real-time interaction that humans have with each other using computers as tools to exchange text, images, audio and video.

E-mail - Electronic mail, most commonly referred to as email or e-mail

Privacy - the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves, or information about themselves, and thereby express themselves selectively

Cookies - a message given to a Web browser by a Web server. The browser stores the message in a text file.

Hoax - message which is written to deliberately spread fear, uncertainty and doubt.

Cyber Stalking - the use of the Internet or other electronic means to stalk or harass an individual, a group, or an organization.

Netiquette - the do's and don'ts of online communication

Junk - unsolicited bulk email

Rumor - a tall tale of explanations of events circulating from person to person

Urban Legend - a form of modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true

Netizen - an entity or person actively involved in online communities and a user of the Internet

Cybercitizen –very actively involved in online communities

Flame - a searing attack by a writer in an e-mail or bulletin board message as well as to a highly sophisticated strain of malware