Theory: the Internet has changed the basis for the emergence of communities

The Internet has transformed the principle of forming communities, at least in the online. By this theory a researcher Tatiana Tatarchevskaya came analyzing group and user interaction on the web.

The Internet has transformed the principle of forming communities, at least in the online. By this theory a researcher Tatiana Tatarchevskaya came analyzing group and user interaction on the web. 

Татьяна Татарчевская

Previously researchers thought that online community was formed based on collective identity, now it is happen tanks to the individual interest of users by particular person. By similar conclusions Barry Wellman came in his concept of network individualism.

From a sociological point of view, a sense of belonging to the group ceased to be the basis for the existence of online communities. Now they hold on the individual user's interests.

Today we can say that an online community is a place where users come back all the time. The head of all this is a person which users associate with their interests and the interests of a group. Meanwhile, a person is not able to organize a community without the confidence of the customers and the recognition of its legitimacy.

Organizer of lectures is Internet Research Laboratory (LINIS) at HSE in St. Petersburg together with the Center for New Media and Society at the New Economic School and the Faculty of Media Communication HSE (Moscow).

About the speaker :

Tatiana Tatarchevskaya is PhD in Sociology at the University of Virginia (2010). She teaches sociology at the private Catholic college in New England as well as coordinates the project at the University Without Borders.