This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by HAMPTON, K. Articles by WELLMAN, B. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Long Distance Community in the Network Society

Contact and Support Beyond Netville

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

BARRY WELLMAN

University of Toronto

The authors examine the experience of the residents of Netville, a suburban neighborhood with access to some of the most advanced new communication technologies available, and how this technology affected the amount of contact and support exchanged with members of their distant social networks. Focusing exclusively on friends and relatives external to the neighborhood of Netville, the authors analyze community as relations that provide a sense of belonging rather than as a group of people living near each other. Computer-mediated communication (CMC) is treated as one of several means of communication used in the maintenance of social networks. Contrary to expectations that the Internet encourages a global village, those ties that previously were just out of reach geographically experience the greatest increase in contact and support as a result of access to CMC.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. Igarashi, J. Takai, and T. Yoshida Gender differences in social network development via mobile phone text messages: A longitudinal study Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, October 1, 2005; 22(5): 691 - 713. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. HAYTHORNTHWAITE Introduction: The Internet in Everyday Life American Behavioral Scientist, November 1, 2001; 45(3): 363 - 382. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B. WELLMAN, A. Q. HAASE, J. WITTE, and K. HAMPTON Does the Internet Increase, Decrease, or Supplement Social Capital?: Social Networks, Participation, and Community Commitment American Behavioral Scientist, November 1, 2001; 45(3): 436 - 455. [Abstract] [PDF]