Electronic communication and

social networks

Common Book IIICommon Book III Sociological benefits of reading a Sociological benefits of reading a

book in commonbook in common

Types of booksTypes of books

Types of ActivitiesTypes of Activities Obstacles to effective Obstacles to effective

implementationimplementation

Electronic communication and

social networks

What are ECTs? Brief History of the Internet Access to the Internet Debates about ECTs and community

What are electronic communication technologies?

Cell phones (and text messaging) Email Web-browsing

How different from earlier technologies? Eg., telegraph, telephone, fax

Brief History of the Internet

1969 ARPANET Sponsored by the

Pentagon Decentralized

network (no single hub)

Surprise: Used primarily for personal messaging

History continued

70s and 80s: linked networks (.gov, .mil, .edu., .com, .org, .net)

1989: WWW developed 1990s: development of web

browsers (gopher Mosaic, Netscape) allow for image viewing

1998: Google arrives 2005: YouTube debuts

Penetration of computing in US Households

Cell phone subscribers

0

50

100

150

200

250

1995 2003 2005

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Why no access?

Debate about the impact of ECT

Theorists have always worried that technology will destroy community

Why? Technology will break down local bonds, isolating individuals from one another.

Mechanisms: Reduce social contact with kin, friends, etc. Disengage with local neighborhood Reduce involvement in civic affairs, voluntary

organizations

Benefits of community:

Companionship Support Access to information A sense of belonging A means of aggregating and expressing

hopes and grievances

3 Questions:

Does the internet weaken community? Because people replace in-person relationship

with time spend online and out of the public realm?

Does the internet transform community? Is a new online ‘virtual community’ emerging

that allows people to participate in trans-local communities, freed of the bonds of geography?

Does the internet enhance community? By adding new forms of communication with

which to sustain relationships?