Social Capital is the wealth gained from our social interacts and connections. By accessing our close, intimate relationships as well as those further afield, our connections will continue to grow, spreading information. Social networking sites such as Facebook help to maintain these connections with hundreds of people globally. Facebook not only maintains and gives people the satisfaction of being involved, therefore emotional well-being. This builds and creates better communities and builds social capital. {Ellison, Steinfield, 2007}
Within this social capital we retain strong and weak ties. A weak tie are the more diverse social networks, we may not be directly related or associated to them. Strong ties on the contrary is the complete opposite in which these networks are closer and much more intimate. We will converse with these networks on a much more regular basis. Putnam explores this theory in much more detail in his book, ``Bowling Alone''. {2000}
There are other definitions and words to describe the connections. Bonding refers to those people you know personally whereas bridging are slight associations through others. Bridging even if through slight associations gives the audiences a more broad range of diversity and a better sense of well-being.
Social Capital and Me
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This powerpoint shows my social capital within Facebook. I have many initmate, strong ties within my friends network. Those would include my family, my boyfriend and my closest friends at home and at University. However, I did not realise how many weak ties I have as well. Having looked through my Facebook friends I can see that I am friends with my boyfriend's friends, his classmates and his extended family. I am also friends with people who I knew when I lived in Canada, these people I may not have talked to for ten years. I may not speak to these people on a regular basis however I am still connected to them through others. Similarly, while having made friends at University, their friends have added me on Facebook. These people I have never met, however still have connections. As you can see social captial as explained by Putnam, gives me connections to people all over the world, broadening my communication with people of different races, gender and age groups. This will help to broaden my knowledge of far apart cultures and bring them closer together along with bringing my intimate connections even closer still.
Resources:
Ellison, N.B, Steinfield, C., Lampe, C. {2007} `The benefits of Facebook ``friends''. Social Capital and college students' use of online social network sites', Journal of Computer Mediated Communcation, 12{4}, article 1.
Http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol12/issue4/ellison.html
Putname, R. {2000} ``Bowling Alone'', New York, Simon and Schuster
This powerpoint shows my social capital within Facebook. I have many initmate, strong ties within my friends network. Those would include my family, my boyfriend and my closest friends at home and at University. However, I did not realise how many weak ties I have as well. Having looked through my Facebook friends I can see that I am friends with my boyfriend's friends, his classmates and his extended family. I am also friends with people who I knew when I lived in Canada, these people I may not have talked to for ten years. I may not speak to these people on a regular basis however I am still connected to them through others. Similarly, while having made friends at University, their friends have added me on Facebook. These people I have never met, however still have connections. As you can see social captial as explained by Putnam, gives me connections to people all over the world, broadening my communication with people of different races, gender and age groups. This will help to broaden my knowledge of far apart cultures and bring them closer together along with bringing my intimate connections even closer still.
Resources:
Ellison, N.B, Steinfield, C., Lampe, C. {2007} `The benefits of Facebook ``friends''. Social Capital and college students' use of online social network sites', Journal of Computer Mediated Communcation, 12{4}, article 1.
Http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol12/issue4/ellison.html
Putname, R. {2000} ``Bowling Alone'', New York, Simon and Schuster
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