Social Capital and Community Building through the Internet: A Swedish Case Study in a Disadvantaged Suburban Area

2007 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Ferlander ◽  
Duncan Timms

The rapid diffusion of the Internet has considerable potential for enhancing the way people connect with each other, the root of social capital. However, the more the Internet is used for building social capital the greater will the impact be on those whose access and/or usage is curtailed. It is therefore important to investigate the impacts of Internet on groups at risk of digital and social exclusion. The aim of this article is to examine how the use of the Internet influences social capital and community building in a disadvantaged area. Quantitative and qualitative data from a case study in a suburban area of Stockholm are used to evaluate the social impacts of two community-based Internet projects: a Local Net and an IT-Café. Each of the projects was aimed at enhancing digital inclusion and social capital in a disadvantaged local community. The paper examines the extent to which use of the Internet is associated with an enhancement of social participation, social trust and local identity in the area. The Local Net appears to have had limited success in meeting its goals; the IT-Café was more successful. Visitors to the IT-Café had more local friends, expressed less social distrust, perceived less tension between different groups in the area and felt a much stronger sense of local identity than non-visitors. Visitors praised the IT-Café as providing a meeting-place both online and offline. The Internet was used for networking, exchange of support and information seeking. Although it is difficult to establish causal priorities, the evidence suggests that an IT-Café, combining physical with virtual and the local with the global, may be especially well suited to build social capital and a sense of local community in a disadvantaged area. The importance of social, rather than solely technological, factors in determining the impact of the Internet on social capital and community in marginal areas is stressed.

Author(s):  
Hayes Mawindi Mabweazara

This chapter uses a qualitative case study approach to critically examine the appropriations of the Internet by Zimbabwean mainstream print media journalists. It draws on social constructivist approaches to technology and the sociology of journalism to highlight the impact of the Internet on practices and professionalism. The chapter argues that the deployment of the Internet by Zimbabwean journalists (and indeed in Africa at large) is relative and contingent upon the ‘internal’ newsroom context(s) and the wider socio-political and economic circumstances in which the journalists operate. Among other functions, the technology shapes the mainstream press’ news agenda as well as avails information often censored by government. However, as the chapter shall demonstrate, the use of the Internet is replete with ethical and professional implications.


2016 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. 91-105
Author(s):  
Ewa Stachowska

The interactions between religion and the media are characterized by a great complexity, manifesting itself inter alia in the impact on the spheres of culture, education and religion, making these dimensions almost obliged to subordinate themselves to the influence of the media, as well as to use the media tools in their activity to fulfill the basic or constitutive aims. In this article one of the aspects of the relationship existing between religion and the media will be discussed, namely, the use of the Internet by the Catholic Church – mainly in Poland, though not only – to distribute religious content and ideas, originally contributing to the support of the pastoral ministry and evangelization. At the same time, the features of the recipients of these activities will be outlined, indicating – at least indirectly – the effectiveness and accuracy of both the inevitable and essential alliance between the sacrum and the media nowadays.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mayli Lañas-Navarro ◽  
Jose Ipanaque-Calderon Sr ◽  
Fiorela E Solano

BACKGROUND Research on the use of the Internet in the medical field is experiencing many advances, including mobile applications, social networks, telemedicine. Its implementation in medical care and comprehensive patient management is a much discussed topic at present. OBJECTIVE This narrative review aims to understand the impact of the internet and social networks on the management of diabetes, both for patients and medical staff. METHODS The bibliographic search was carried out in the databases Pubmed, Virtual Health Library (VHL) and Lilacs between 2018 to 2020. RESULTS Multiple mobile applications have been created for the help and control of diabetic patients, as well as the implementation of online courses, improving the knowledge of health personnel applying them in the field of telemedicine. CONCLUSIONS The use of the Internet and social networks brings many benefits for both the diabetic patient and the health personnel, offering advantages for both.


2001 ◽  
Vol 33 (8) ◽  
pp. 1371-1384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Willis ◽  
J Neill Marshall ◽  
Ranald Richardson

The authors examine the impact of the remote delivery of financial services on the branch network of British building societies. The current phase of branch-network rationalisation in the financial sector in Europe and North America is argued in the academic literature to be the inevitable consequence of the growth of electronic and telemediated forms of delivery of financial services. In the British building society sector, despite some evidence of branch closure as the use of the Internet and telephone call centres in the delivery of financial services has grown, the picture that emerges is of a dynamic branch network that is responding to changing customer demands and new technological possibilities. Face-to-face advice and discussions between customers and trained ‘experts’ remain an important part of the mortgage transaction. In the savings market, where products have become more commodified, telephone call centres and, more recently, the Internet have become more prominent, but institutions still rely heavily on the branch network to deliver services. The authors suggest that, although there have been changes in the relative importance of different distribution channels as sources of business in the financial sector, it is wrong to view these changes in terms of a simple branch-versus-direct dichotomy. A more complex picture is presented, with most institutions adopting a multichannel approach to the delivery of financial services, and electronic forms of delivery of financial services being developed as an additional delivery channel alongside the branch.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sangeeta Lamba ◽  
M. Bishr Omary ◽  
Brian L. Strom

PurposeThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused unprecedented health, economic and social ramifications. Cumulative stressors for healthcare organizations during the pandemic have an impact on the morale of the workforce. The impact of magnified health disparities with ongoing disproportionate loss of lives of people of color combined with the racial injustices has left many colleagues and communities traumatized and seeking solutions. This is a moment in time for organizations to lean into the strengths of their diversity leadership to strengthen a culture of inclusion and build resilience for their employees.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use an organizational case study to describe the initiatives and experiences related to fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging at an academic health center during the initial epicenter of the pandemic.FindingsThe authors weekly community building virtual cafes, leveraging funding for diversity initiatives and visible ways to showcase the work of colleagues have been feasible, sustainable and had positive outcomes. Similar processes may assist other institutions and organizations seeking to enhance efforts for inclusion while distancing.Research limitations/implicationsStrategies described are generalizable but the authors report on one organization's experience.Originality/valueIntentional strategies that help build a deeper sense of community are essential for institutions during the disruption of pandemic related physical distancing. Inclusive decisions anchored in equity and inclusion as core institutional values will be essential to sustain resilience as the authors seek to build the new “equitable” normal.


2012 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 60-70
Author(s):  
Melanie Radue

Everywhere in the media, people talk about the so-called “Twitter and Facebook revolution” in regard to the Green Revolution in Iran or other new social movements which demand democratization in their countries and use the Internet for communication and mobilization. Libertarian advocates of the Internet state that the Internet has democratizing effects because of its reputed egalitarian, open and free technological structure for communication processes. Especially in countries in which the media is under strict control by the government, these characteristics are emphasized as stimulation for political liberalization and democratization processes. This essay critically examines the alleged democratizing effect of the use of the Internet on the Malaysian society exemplified on the social movement Bersih. The Bersih movement demands free and fair elections in Malaysia, often described as an ethnocratic and “electoral authoritarian regime”. 141 The objective of this study is to demonstrate the dependency of such possible effects on context.


Temida ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 23-36
Author(s):  
Rajko Macura ◽  
Slavoljub Vujovic ◽  
Djuro Mikic

The emergence and spread of Internet communication has led to changes in social relationships, abuse of the Internet and maladaptive behavior. Among the authors who have studied the impact of these changes there is no consensus, and the results of their research are often contradictory. Some authors conclude that Internet communication strengthens networks of its users, while others believe that such communication leads to reduced participation in real social life. In a number of people, excessive use of the Internet adversely affects the mental health and social life and can lead to obsession at the expense of other aspects of life and creating addiction. The greatest risk of negative impacts of online communication is among children and young people. This paper is meant to indicate, the good sides as well as the negative consequences of excessive and non-functional Internet use


Author(s):  
Emad Ahmad Zedan Abu- Smhadaneh Emad Ahmad Zedan Abu- Smhadaneh

The study aims to explore the current reality of internet service in school libraries affiliated with the education of Karak by identifying the advantages and disadvantages of the service and identifying the most important problems facing the use of the Internet in school libraries. The study also aimed to knew the views and perspectives of each of the managers, secretaries and employees of school libraries on the impact of the Internet service in their libraries. The study gains its importance by addressing the issue of the Internet and its basic services in school libraries and its importance and benefits in the scientific research process. The study population consists of students of the education schools in Karak Governorate from the preparatory and secondary school levels. The study sample is represented in the Kasbah of Karak schools for males and females for the preparatory and secondary stages. The researcher used the descriptive, analytical approach and the case study approach. The researcher collected data through books and periodicals that dealt with the Internet topic and the interview with the librarian and the questionnaire. The study came out with a set of findings and recommendations for students and librarians, which will help develop the use of the Internet in school libraries.


Author(s):  
Najmudin Najmudin

The results shows that there are changes of social capital of dairy farmers groups in the process of institutionalization of SAMESTA cooperatives. The change is the impact of the conditions of Indonesian dairy. These changes occur in several elements of social capital, as follows: (1) Value, as a guide and reinforcement of farmers’ positive behavior. The existing values among farmers are klangenan (like), titen (scrutinize deeply), honesty, and togetherness. These values ​​become the fuel that forces the farmers to relate each other and realize the more transparent and fairer cooperative. This case shows the influence of cultural values ​​on the farmers’ economic behavior. They calculate inputs and outputs, and make some adjustments to prevent them from losing and calculate the standard number of cows that they have. (2) Trust changes positively, especially by raising the milk price from farmers, although it gives a risk to the cooperative income. This decision is expected to increase the farmers' ethos, thus impacts on the increase of milk production. (3) Networks, in which the relationship between farmers firstly occurs in hamlet area, then it extends the network beyond those limits. Farmers from different villages are connected naturally. This inter-subject's relationship occurs due to the same goals, which are wishes to be more dignified, prosperous, and get fair treatment.


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