The entire foundation of the internet is based on the concept to share information. The development of social networks on the internet has gone through some changes since the creation of the internet, and these changes are what this course has inspired me to think about as of late.

I will share a bit of personal online social network history. Towards the end of the year 2000, at the young age of 13, AOL provided me with the internet connection necessary to proceed to spend hours of my time on the internet, occupying the house phone line for hours. Not only did this irriate my parents, but I cut off one social communication method for another. Yes, the first network related experiences I had were on Napster chat rooms and subsequently, I found my way on to IRC (Internet Relay Chat) on Dalnet servers. The first chat room I joined on there was the #finalfantasy room. And when I think of the people I met on there in the year 2000/2001 and compare it with the people in my life now (I do not go on IRC anymore.) I have to say that I have been able to maintain friendships with 8 people I met on IRC, on the #finalfantasy chat room in 2000/2001. I do mean true friendships, I mean, friendships as valid and as strong as my best friend growing up. In fact, through the years, and moving to other social communication methods (AIM, of course.) I can say that I have met all 8 people in real life. I talk to them on a daily basis as I talk to other people in my life who may not live in Ithaca. If someone would have told me in 2001 that the people you are talking to on a chat room, that you have never talked to outside of that environment with its constraints that I would still be friends, not only “good” friends with those people, would have sounded impossible to me. This all ties in to how people define strength in bonds. In my particular case, when I was younger and more skeptical about online formation of relationships. I measured the strength of a “virtual” relationship with one I had in “real” life. How do you classify the strength of online formed bonds?

The point that I wanted to make was in regards to the fact, that I think that if I were to go to an IRC channel now, I doubt I would put the time an energy of forming a bond of substance. I think after the creation of the Facebook and other more visually social networks, that the point isn’t to form deep bonds, but more to just on the surface meet people who you will barely know, or to maintain relationships with people you already knew offline. I cannot say that in recent years, I have maintained a friendship with someone I only met online. Do you think we are moving away from that concept? Or is that of my own personal preference. I would say in some ways it’s due to the set up of online social networks now. I think all the added effects are to the detriment of forming strength in bonds.

In a paper by Katelyn McKenna and John A. Bargh found here they discuss the various ways that online relationships effect offline life, and online life. Here is what they say about online groups, such as e-mail list serves, forums, etc. :
“These virtual groups can be fertile territory for the formation of friendships and even close relationships because of the shared interests and values of the members (see McKenna et al. 2002)—perceptions of similarity and shared beliefs (in addition to the shared strong topical interests) are known to contribute to attraction between individuals (Byrne 1971). “

The statement “contribute to attraction”, but of what sort? Of what strength? I suppose all we can generalize is that it develops. I believe that there must be an increased way to define the strength of a bond. This additional information is what I feel would be the most useful and necessary out of most of the network mapping. Although, strength varies from field to field.

Back to my point, I am curious to know what others in the class feel about defining strength of bonds and about their personal experiences in online relationship (friendships/romantic/any type) forming. Do you feel the ability to form something meaningful has become almost impossible due to the the formation of modern social networks (My Space, The Facebook.)?