With the growth of the internet as a tool for seeking information, the ability to communicate and build connections with others has likewise expanded across the public. Thanks to the expanse of globalization and networking technology, people are overwhelmingly incorporating the Internet into their pre-established physical connections, creating an online supplement for their communities (Cheng et al., 2019). Interestingly, those communities ostensibly absent within the physical realm, especially those encompassing the most vulnerable and disadvantaged within society, can be found in earnest online (Cheng et al., 2019; Chung, 2013). In either case, the expanse of social communities no longer remains confined to face-to-face networks. That said, among the communities people may find themselves in (on or offline), there remains a constant variable found within those bonds: the presence of social capital. Specifically, those resources found within social bonds have only been made more accessible through the internet and thus bear a significant role in the development of communities online (Cheng et al., 2019).
Based on various disciplines, the concept of “social capital” may broadly refer to the investments found within one’s social bonds. They are the resources one has available from those within their social networks, and thus are cultivated through the mutual establishment and maintenance of those relationships (Adler & Kwon, 2002). For a relatable example, one could imagine the economic or extracurricular opportunities available to a student as a product of their relationship with a faculty member. While the relationship itself may stem from the institutional power dynamics of higher education, those specific professional opportunities are in fact features resulting from the mutual recognition of said relationship (Adler & Kwon, 2002). Additionally, these resources do not necessarily have to be intrinsically material; they may also be social or emotional, for instance, in terms of sustaining trust and affection (Adler & Kwon, 2002). Subsequently, when inserting the layer of online networks, one could suggest that the internet provides yet another avenue of identifying social capital, either through the compensation of networks for those who lack bonds offline (social compensation) or through the enhancement of an already robust offline network (social enhancement; Cheng et al., 2019).
With the former in particular, an understanding of social capital can be useful in the development and negation of a sense of community online. To elaborate, in terms of cultivating a sense of community, the idea of social capital may be found within the element of “integration and fulfillment of needs”; that is, the availability and presence of resources found within the community, as proposed by McMillan and Chavis (1986). I must note, however, that these authors base this on solely the concept of reinforcement, rather than the more abstract possible of martial and relational capital (i.e., social capital). Regardless, the need for these resources remains a salient factor in community development, best exemplified by those in help group-based communities seeking support (Gruman et al., 2016). Specifically, for individuals suffering from chronic diseases or physical/mental conditions, the opportunity to find a desired community of those similar satisfies both the need for information and the need for psychological support. This online group allows one to identify resources that may be lacking or absent within their daily lives while also acting as a buffer (via anonymity) towards potential prejudice levied against them in their face-to-face interactions with out-group members (Gruman et al., 2016).
What was once confined to physical connections among smaller, homogeneous societies, social communities are now ubiquitous across the internet. Further, online communities allow for the diffusion of those resources, opportunities, and support systems intrinsic to the ties found in offline communities. This social capital plays a central role in the larger formulation of communities both on and offline; however, it becomes more acute for those who may struggle to identify communal ties within the physical realm. For many of us, it might be of interest to take this into consideration when reflecting on our own social communities and larger social ties.
References:
Adler, P. S., & Kwon, S. (2002). Social capital: Prospects for a new concept. Academy of Management Review, 27(1), 17-40.
Cheng, C., Wang, H., Sigerson, L., & Chau, C. (2019). Do the socially rich get richer? A nuanced perspective on social network site use and online social capital accrual. American Psychological Association: Psychological Bulletin, 145(7), 734-764.
Chung, J. E. (2013). Social interaction in online support groups: Preference for online social interaction over offline social interaction. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(4), 1408-1414.
Gruman, J. A., Schneider, F. W., & Coutts, L. M. (2017). Applied social psychology: Understanding and addressing social and practical problems (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.
McMillan, D. W., & Chavis, D. M. (1986). Sense of community: A definition and theory. Journal of Community Psychology, 14(1), 6-23.
The internet has created this space for online communities that can permeate through geographical and social barriers. The role of social capital in online communities as you explain it, is important for the development of online communities because it fulfills needs by providing resources. Social capital can also be connected to my blog post where I write about how local governments can use social media to reach diverse communities. I think the internet is a powerful tool that can help to fulfill needs. The local government can use social capital to build stronger communities by fostering trust and engagement. They can create opportunities for community members to connect by facilitating online spaces for communication. A strong community can be a support system for individuals who are vulnerable and can create spaces for two-way communication (Ahn and Jong, 2024). It is not only important to bring up this idea, but also to find ways to invest in and implement this intervention. All members of a community need to be heard.
Reference
Ahn, Y., & Jong, J. (2024). Community Diversity and Social Media Use in Local Governments. Administration & Society, 56(9-10), 1083-1103.