Question

How will social capital increase or decrease in our ‘Information Society’?

Answer 1

The existing literature is oriented toward examining how Internet access and use may affect social capital. The role of social capital in narrowing the digital divides has been frequently mentioned but few studies have empirically examined how various types of social capital may affect people's access and use of the Internet. Drawing on a two-wave national panel data set, this article aims to fill this gap. Results demonstrate that social capital facilitates Internet access and use. In particular resource-rich bonding social capital helps overcome the digital divides in access, general use, and online communication. Before the Internet can revitalize social capital, there must be the right social capital in place to close the digital divides.

Social capital broadly refers to those factors of effectively functioning social groups that include such things as interpersonal relationships, a shared sense of identity, a shared understanding, shared norms, shared values, trust, cooperation, and reciprocity. However, the many views of this complex subject make a single definition difficult.

The term generally refers to (a) resources, and the value of these resources, both tangible (public spaces, private property) and intangible ("actors", "human capital", people), (b) the relationships among these resources, and (c) the impact that these relationships have on the resources involved in each relationship, and on larger groups. It is generally seen as a form of capital that produces public goods for a common good.

Social capital has been used to explain the improved performance of diverse groups, the growth of entrepreneurial firms, superior managerial performance, enhanced supply chain relations, the value derived from strategic alliances, and the evolution of communities.

This is an argument for immigration restriction that specifically focuses on the diversity of immigrants and their visible (racial, ethnic, cultural, and linguistic) differences with the native population. It is argued that when a society gets more heterogeneous, then, overall, there is a decline of social capital, in particular of trust, between the members. People turn more inward. Further, it is argued that this decline occurs even within individual communities, not just across communities.

Social capital, like other kinds of capital, is a form of wealth that “yields.” However, rather than possessing a truck (physical capital) or computer programming skills (human capital), which can be employed to make a profit, an individual with social capital possesses close trust-based relationships that are used to further his or her social, civic, or political agenda. These relationships entitle the individual to be used as a type of credit that can then be “cashed in” when he or she is need of resources, assistance, or other benefits (Bordieu, 1986). For example, if a couple brings a casserole to their neighbors who just had a baby, these new parents will see the fruit of the social capital they had cultivated with their neighbors. Thus, the gains of social capital are similar to those generated by economic capital (Coleman, 1988), benefitting the individuals in these interpersonal relationships—but also the communities in which they are embedded. As connectedness, interdependence, and trust between individuals grow, the social ties binding the group together grow stronger, which in turn, creates well-connected, smoothly-functioning communities.

Recent studies of social media have taken these findings even further—demonstrating that new media has gone beyond supplementation and begun facilitating the creation of social capital. As early as 2001 Matei and Ball Rokeach have shown that social capital migrates from offline to online environments. Furthermore, individuals with social aptitudes and ability to connect in everyday life will use these skills to build social capital online as well. A 2006 study conducted by Ellison, Steinfeld, and Lampe examined the influence of Facebook on bonding and bridging capital as well as “maintained” social capital, or the capital resulting from connections maintained from former networks. The findings indicated a positive relationship between Facebook and all three kinds of social capital. The strongest relationship was bridging capital, illustrating the unique nature of online social networks to connect individuals by virtue of their weak ties, or “acquaintance” relationships.

Thus, there are clearly two sides to social capital. Just as close bonds between group members can benefit a community, so they can also forestall important progress and change. However, if a mass media researcher understands this duality to social capital, he or she is better equipped to apply the theory effectively. By avoiding the common pitfalls in theorizing, and creating a tight, focused application of the concept, social capital theory can be a powerful lens through which to examine media effects in society.