Bowling Alone but Online Together : Social Capital in E - Communities

this paper, we present a non-technical overview of new forms of voluntary association called online (or e-) communities and explore the implications they present for community development theory and practice. E-communities are groups of people with common interests that communicate regularly, and for some duration, in an organized way over the Internet (Ridings et al., 2002). They are designed to provide users with a range of tools for learning, personal development, and collective action-all embedded in a complex, continuing, and personally enriching network of social relations. We pose several fundamental questions, including these: a) what are the key features of online communities? b) how do they compare to (offline) communities of place? c) how are they designed and developed? and d) how do e-community members use them to affect collective action? We define key terms related to online communities, place them in the context of broader Web cultural practices, and review emerging literature in online community development. We present findings from case studies of four very different active online communities. Social interaction in these communities was extensive, and surprisingly civil. Web site managers use a variety of community development practices to attract and retain members, and to establish community norms, trust, and collective resources. Several years ago Robert Putnam captured the attention of many social scientists, policymakers, and community leaders with one simple observation: membership in bowling leagues in the United States was declining (Cf., Putnam, 2000). Statistics showed that bowling remained a very popular leisure activity. However, people were less inclined to participate in the context of more or less formal voluntary associations we call leagues. When considered in isolation, this observation seems quite inconsequential. However, Putman and others have skillfully linked it with data that show a steady and rather steep decline in American participation in voluntary associations generally for the past fifty years. Along with many other social theorists before them, Putnam and colleagues argued that broad participation in voluntary associations was a chief source of the norms, trust, and collective resources (labeled social capital) that are essential to community life. Putnam's research has inspired thousands of scholars and practitioners around the world to investigate and debate the current state of voluntary associations and their importance to community development. A review of this remarkably vital and productive dialogue is beyond the scope of this paper. 1 However, as scholars and practitioners debate key concepts and research methods, …