1. The Media Equation: Media = Real Life
   In his book, The Media Equation, Reeves and Nass initiated that we respond (response) communication media as if the media was alive. The practical implications of this equation media is when we turn on the TV or the computer, we follow the rules of interpersonal interaction that we went through during our lifetime. This is a human-media relations. Reeves and Nass said that media equation is very basic or fundamental nature, so, "it Applies to everyone, it Applies Often, and it is highly consequential".
2. Beyond Intuition that Protests: “Not Me, I Know A Picture Is Not A Person”
   The media equation is clearly counterintuitive. When we watch TV or browse the internet, none of us will admit that we are the center responded to the pictures on the screen as if the images were real. We know that it is on the screen are images of imaginary or just a representation of the original object. Reeves and Nass stated otherwise. Both stated that in fact the media responding to social (socially) and natural (naturally), even though they know that they are not sensible thing to do, and even though they do not think that it characterizes the response themselves. A condition in which our behavior is not influenced or adjusted to the situation that we are experiencing. On the one hand we say "not me" which represents that we are independent beings and we realize that what we see is artificial. On the other hand, we respond to the pictures as we were making an interpersonal interaction with someone.
3. Older brains fooled New Technology
   To explain the reasons why humans respond to social and natural media, Reeves and Nass using the theory of evolution is a slow pace. According to them, the human brain is involved only in activities and social behavior, and see all the perceived object is a real object. Anything that looks real, it becomes really real. So actually we have not adapted to the existence of new media so that any Obvious, is personified by us.
   
   People can of course be thinking that themselves are not primitive and can not simply be controlled media. For example when we watch a horror movie, we continue to strive to eliminate fear or sadness us to say to myself, "this is not real. This is not real. This is a lie ". Unfortunately, we rarely do that. Even if we try to do, we are not able to do it consistently or constantly when the images and sounds that are right in front of us.

In theory this media equation, media such as television and computers enforced like social actors. Rules that usually apply and influence the everyday behavior of individuals in interacting with others are relatively similar when people interact with computers or televisions. As well as social problems. When people interact with others because of common vision, mission, beliefs, social status, needs, or beliefs. Interaction between people with such force that the media also. When we watch television, we tend to choose shows that meet our needs. When we access the internet through any computer, we tend to be more concerned with the needs and trust us.

In addition to the things adjacent to the social life, by surprise in his research, as quoted by Griffin, Reeves and Nass stated that, "The media are full participants in our social and natural world." (Griffin, 2003: 405). For Reeves and Nass, the media is more than just a "tool". If McLuhan said that the media is a tool, and then the tools that form us, but Reeves and Nass stated that the media is more than that. For those who are named as "tool" as "hardware" that can be bought in the store. While the media, this can not be equated with dead hardware. Because the media also contribute to and influence large enough for human life. They also stress that given by television, computers, and other forms of media is a virtual reality. Therefore, the media is not just a "tool".

The proof of Equation:

1. Interpersonal Distance
   A study conducted regarding changes in emotions, attitudes, and gestures some people when they're dealing with images of people who were talking to them on the TV screen with different distances. The result shows that the distance between the viewer with TV influence on changes in attitudes, emotions, and gesture audience. According to Reeves and Nass, people assume that a facial image, associated with its size, only a symbol that represents people who are not really there. But more than that, the size of the face of widely affects the psychological response of curiosity approaching, until an assessment of the character.
2. Similarity and Attraction
   Microsoft and Macintosh produce two types of computer software. The first Max, which is a computer that uses the word command, shows the dominance of the wearer. The second named Linus, ie computers that use words submissive. Reeves and Nass declared this effect on the users computer. According to them, when the engine is equipped with a personality-like characteristics, people will respond to the machine as if it had personality. Although these people claim that they do not believe the machine actually has a personality.
3. Source Credibility
   For example, when we hear from our friends about the bombing in an area, we're not going to be easy to believe. But when we watch the news on TV about the bombing through the famous news anchor and credible as rosiana silalahi, we would have more trust in Rosiana. Although we know that it is possible Rosiana just read the news without writing the news.

The theory put forward by Reeves and Nass is classified in the empirical theory (positivistic). Based on the classification performed by Chaffee and Berger in 2007, this theory into the category of empirical theory because:

1. This theory predicts how a person treats the media (based on interpersonal theory) media like it is human
2. This theory explains that the audience is active
3. This theory is relatively easy to understand
4. These include flow positivist theory (a generalization, one truth, unpredictable behavior, and does not see the values espoused someone)

Against criticism Media Equation Theory
Some critics were submitted for this theory is:

1. Reeves and Nass use interpersonal communication conception of social psychology, not of the field of communications. Most social-psych research see interpersonal communication as one-way communication (one-way). Instead, most experts define interpersonal communication communication as the construction of shared meaning that studied the two-way message flow, which then creates a common interpretation.
2. Reeves and Nass have shown surprising results regarding their assumption that the media have an impact on parallel interpersonal effects. But when the media equation is applied in several discoveries about the shared meanings such as constructivism, relational Dialectics, or other interpersonal research programs, media theory as metaphor equation more powerful than mathematical certainty.