This weeks reading were all about the formation and existence of online communities and how they affect real life.
In Rheingold’s article virtual communities he talks about the benefits of forming online relationships with people. Like I said in class it gives the user and opportunity form a bond with someone hundreds of miles away, some thing we as humans try and do everyday. Even when these online relationships develop into real life friendships, the ties don't loosen because the mode of communication has changed. Take online dating; many people talk online before meeting on person to really get to know each other without basing your opinion of them on their outward appearance
IN the strengthening ties article it gives some evidence that the Internet could hinder relations between people. To me at least the Internet is far from and if anything the Internet has reinforced them in a different way. It allows for people who aren’t in the same vicinity to keep in contact with each other and not feel left out. On a personal level, my sister and I are about two and a half hours away from each other and its not as easy to drive down to see her every time I want to talk to her. The Internet has given us a way to keep each other updated with our lives not take time away from each other.
The reason for the creation of social networking sites like facebook and myspace was to originally keep in contact with your friends and make new ones. They allow people to share pictures, post messages, etc. etc. For modern youth, who’s life the computer has revolutionized, it is the modern version of email and even the telephone. I feel like many people in different generations don't understand this so they are skeptical of these sites.