Does the Internet Increase, Decrease, or Supplement Social Capital?

WELLMAN, BARRY; QUAN HAASE, ANABEL; WITTE, JAMES; HAMPTON, KEITH

doi:10.1177/00027640121957286

Public

Does the Internet Increase, Decrease, or Supplement Social Capital?

Published in American Behavioral Scientist • Nov 1, 2001

NobleIDark:/48914/w1/20260525/8175C67CRecord on NobleID

Authors:

BARRY WELLMAN

,

ANABEL QUAN HAASE

,

JAMES WITTE

Abstract

How does the Internet affect social capital? Do the communication possibilities of the Internet increase, decrease, or supplement interpersonal contact, participation, and community commitment? This evidence comes from a 1998 survey of 39,211 visitors to the National Geographic Society Web site, one...

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