Computer-Mediated Communication

Communication that occurs through digital devices and platforms, including text messaging, email, video conferencing, voice chat, and social media. Computer-mediated communication raises accessibility challenges because many platforms assume users can see, hear, type, or speak. Voice-based CMC can increase intimacy and social bonding compared to text-only channels, but excludes people with speech or hearing impairments unless accessible alternatives such as captions, sign language interpretation, or customizable synthetic voices are provided.