Online communities....where do you begin...You've got the usual Bebo, Facebook, Myspace, there's a recent hype around 'Twitter' - don't ask me about it tho..i know nothing! But its all places where we fit ourselves in and communicate with other like minded people
FACEBOOK - for example - is free online community that allows you to keep in touch friends and family around the world
Services provided: Users create their own profiles this includes a personal photo,and you can choose to disclose lists of personal interests - your current 'status'-- "in a relationship" or..."its complicated" , it also allows you to exchange private or public messages, or if a friend is online too you can begin an online chat - much like that of oldschool 'MSN'. You also can do quizzes - want to find out the name of your first child (?!)
Kollock (1998) talks about people joining online communities searching for increased reciprocity, increased recognition, sense of efficacy and sense of community. This is in effect what Facebook can offer
Ethical issues: Facebook like any online community contains many ethical issues - such as privacy problems, authorized consent etc etc etc. Although one does not have much control over what another can 'post' about you - such as comments or pictures. You have the choice to block/deny people if you do not want them to have access to your site.
Benefits over traditional ideas of community:
Facebook provides a connection between you and another person who may live minutes...to miles away! its easy and its instant.
You can meet people with similar interest that you may not have met otherwise. and possibly best of all there's no cost to it!
And if you really dont wat to speak to the person....you can always block!
Benefits traditional ideas of community have in comparison: Everyone made the effort to keep in touch - be in the same place at the same time....and being face to face!
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