Online and offline social participation and social poverty traps. Can social networks save human relations?

M. Sodini, Fabio Sabatini and Angelo Antoci

Working Paper CRENoS from Centre for North South Economic Research, University of Cagliari and Sassari, Sardinia

Abstract: In this study, we develop an evolutionary game model to analyse how human relations evolve in a context characterised by declining face-to-face interactions and growing online social participation. Our results suggest that online networks may constitute a coping response allowing individuals to "defend" their social life from increasing busyness and a reduction in the time available for leisure. Internet-mediated interaction can play a positive role in preventing the disruption of ties and the weakening of community life documented by empirical studies. In this scenario, the digital divide is likely to become an increasingly relevant factor of social exclusion, which may exacerbate inequalities in well-being and capabilities.

Keywords: well-being; social participation; social capital; online networks; digital divide (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C73 D85 O33 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hap, nep-ict, nep-ltv and nep-soc
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Working Paper: Online and offline social participation and social poverty traps. Can social networks save human relations? (2014)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cns:cnscwp:201404

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