1. DOES the Internet Increase, Decrease, or Supplement Social Capital? By Barry Wellman (2001)

2. Robert Putnam Network Capital: Relations with friends, neighbors, relatives, and workmates that significantly provide companionship, emotional aid, information, and a sense of belonging. Participatory Capital: Involvement in politics and organizations that afford opportunities for people to bond, create joint accomplishments and articulate their demands and desires.

3. Wellman’s Addition Community Commitment: When people have a strong attitude towards community-have a motivated, responsible sense of belonging-they will mobilize their social capital more willingly and effectively.

4. What is causing the decline in social capital? The Internet? Wellman’s study looked to identify a relationship between social capital and technology by looking at three views on the subject.

5. Internet Increases Social Capital Involvement in online communities acts as a starting ground for new relationships. Online “meeting places” draw members in on the basis of common interests.

6. Internet Decreases Social Capital Diverting people from “true” community. Competes for time with other activities. Stressor that depresses and alienates. Not all uses are social. Blurs the home-work boundary. Keeps people indoors.

7. Internet Supplements Social Capital “Presents the Internet as best understood in the context of a person’s overall life. It is integrated into the rhythms of daily life, with life online viewed as an extension of offline activities.”

8. 2000 Survey Findings Internet use supplements network capital. Internet use increases participatory capital. Internet use decreases community commitment.

9. Conclusion and Questions Internet has both a positive and negative relationship with social capital. Time online vs. time with family and friends. Is it possible that community commitment (as defined by Wellman) will eventually be non-existent? What affects would that have on society?