Social Capital
Even for those who are not Internet addicts, time spent on-line detracts from other social interactions. On-line communities become a substitute for real communities, lessening the actual interaction amongst individuals. Though some may claim that Internet relationships are a valid substitute for real life ties, certain aspects of the Internet make it impossible for this to be the case.
Putnam describes social capital as the *features of social organization such as networks, norms, and social trust that facilitate coordination and cooperation for mutual benefit.* (Putnam) Civic engagement involves such things as involvement in community activities and associations. Networks are important as they allow an individual to learn about the trustworthiness of others through direct contact and through others in the network. Social capital involves social norms and networks of civic engagement, with an increase in social capital corresponding to an increase in social trust, cooperation, and interaction.
The Internet is, by definition, a global network through which individuals can contact anyone else on-line, and would appear to create its own large community. However, though interactions with varied people around the world allow for diverse relationships, the individual aspect of the Internet does not actually create a network of people. Each user chooses those he would like to communicate with, but these other users are not necessarily in contact with each other. Research by Parks and Floyd concluded that those involved in a friendship in a geographically dispersed virtual community had less common acquaintances than those involved in real life friendships. As stated earlier, a key aspect of networks is the ability to learn about others through direct contact as well as through other members of the community. Therefore, without the overlapping of groups, there is no network, but merely a distinct community for every user.
The anonymity of the Internet provides a challenge to the need for trust in order to promote social capital. Though hyperpersonalization is not a direct betrayal of trust, the withholding of certain information and exaggeration can present a deceptive picture of an individual, and some users do choose to completely alter their identity when going on-line. To prevent this breach of trust, some virtual communities do not allow anonymous users; this eliminates a problem but takes away some of the appeal. In most cases, the ease with which a person can falsely present himself on the Internet does not allow for a trustworthy community, thus having detrimental effects on social capital.
Though on-line communities can be fulfilling and more convenient than actual interactions, they are not a sufficient substitute for real life relationships. Without the overlapping network of individuals and trust, a community can not create social capital, and therefore can not exist independently of normal social interaction.