Article Abstract

	Title:	Bridging and bonding in social network sites – investigating family-based capital
	Author:	Petter Bae Brandtzaeg, Jan Heim, Birgit Hertzberg Kaare
	Address:	University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; SINTEF ICT, Forskningsvn. 1, 0314 Oslo, Norway. ' SINTEF ICT, Forskningsvn. 1, 0314 Oslo, Norway. ' Department of Media and Communication, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1093, Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway
	Journal:	International Journal of Web Based Communities 2010 - Vol. 6, No.3  pp. 231 - 253
	Abstract:	This study explores the relationship between three distinct dimensions of social capital (bridging, peer-bonding and family-bonding capital) in social network sites (SNSs). We ask what kinds of social relations are sought by SNS users and whether the usage of new SNSs contributes to family bonding. A representative sample of the Norwegian internet population shows that 25% use SNSs to communicate with family members once a week or more often, but peer bonding is significantly more frequent (53%). Further, male users are significantly less interested in future family contacts in SNSs than females. Both online bridging and family bonding differ significantly between age groups. Answers to an open-ended question demonstrate a wish to strengthen relationships with friends and acquaintances in SNSs. Contact with family is not reported as a main motivation for using SNSs (1%), while other social relations account for 74% of the motivations. However, the results of the study indicate that the majority of the respondents experience SNSs as a part of their daily communication routines, both to bridge new online contacts and to strengthen bonds with their existing offline ties.
	Keywords:	social network sites; SNS; design; social capital; family relations; gender differences; bridging; peer bonding; family bonding capital; Norway; social networking; web based communities; online communities; virtual communities.
	DOI:	10.1504/IJWBC.2010.033750
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