Our time is characterized by the development of new technologies that facilitate communication between people. The need for Video Mediated Communication (VMC) is increasing because people move to other locations due to migration and global mobility. VMC provides the opportunity for millions of people around the world to “hang out” and see each other despite the distance in between. The world is "shrinking" because of the Internet and our perception of distance is changing.

VMC is becoming increasingly available, in the form of applications like Skype and MSN for mobile phones and computers, and in addition, it’s practically free.

The purpose of this thesis is to render a picture of the way in which people use Skype in the private sphere. We aim to identify possible operational forces and obstacles and their impact on the usage pattern of Skype's video feature. The study showed that Skype's video feature is used mainly to communicate with family members and close friends who are geographically remote. Video communication contributes to a sense of presence and belonging, which motivates users to overcome possible difficulties and obstacles.