See you on Facebook! A framework for analyzing the role of computer-mediated interaction in the evolution of social capital

Angelo Antoci, Fabio Sabatini and Mauro Sodini

Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), 2012, vol. 41, issue 5, 541-547

Abstract: Empirical studies have documented a decline in indicators of social participation in the last five decades. The responsibility of social disengagement has often been attributed to pervasive busyness and the increasing pressure on time. In this paper we argue that computer-mediated interaction, and particularly online networking, can help mitigate this downward trend. We develop a logical framework for assessing the role of the Internet in the evolution of social participation. We analyze an economy where agents can develop their social interactions through two main modes of participation, one encompassing both online networking and face to face interactions, and the other solely based on physical encounters. We study the interdependence between the increase in the pressure on time and the variation in the relative performance of the two strategies of participation.

Keywords: Internet; Computer-mediated communication; Online networking; Facebook; Social networks; Social capital (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O33 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (29)

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Working Paper: See you on Facebook! A framework for analyzing the role of computer-mediated interaction in the evolution of social capital (2011)
Working Paper: See you on Facebook! A framework for analyzing the role of computer-mediated interaction in the evolution of social capital (2011)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:soceco:v:41:y:2012:i:5:p:541-547

DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2012.04.024

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