According to Rainie, Purcell and Smith (2011) study, 75% of Americans are active in using either the internet or cell phones and other devices, and that “internet and cell phone owners are more likely than non-technology users to be active in groups.”They also argued that some factors such as: age, gender, racial, ethnic and social status can influence how much people are active in certain group. For example, they noted that women are more than men, African American more than Hispanic to participate in church or support groups. Additionally higher educated people and those who lived in the same community for longer time are more likely to participate in groups. On the other hand, factors such as lack of interest in participating with groups, health issues, and time pressure are reasons that might prevent people to participate in groups. Generally speaking, people who use the internet more they also participate more in “charitable, donations, volunteering, attending meetings and events and taking leadership roles “(20) .
Whereas, Jansen (2011) noted that “with regard to technology, religiously active Americans use the internet, email, broadband, cell phones and social media platforms at similar rates to other Americans”(2). He asserted that being women, African Americans, parents, highly educated, earn high income are more likely to participate in these religious groups. Jansen concluded that 72% of those people who they are active in religious groups said that internet has no impact on their involvement with groups.
Both of the articles pointed out the importance of the group work and how these groups can strengthen the ties in our communities. The internet and the SNSs faster the work of these groups and helped it to expand and enlarge itselves to help as many people in the society. The more civic engagements the more benefits people would get and the higher the social capital. Therefore, either we do not engaged in any social groups and not be an important part of the society, or we all engage in different social groups, work hand in hand to eliminate our social problems such as class, racism, and discrimination and build better America, just like Shakespeare’s stated in his famous quote “to be, or not to be, that is the question”
You touched on time committments and pressure. I’ve grown up in the world of CMC, so it’s hard for me to compare what it was like 30 years ago. But it feels like new technology raises our expectations to be involved, not just in civic groups, but at work, at school, with friends, etc. The fact that we can be reached 24/7 and have access to never-ending sources of information raises the bar of what is demanded from us. It’s nice to unplug from time to time, but that doesn’t remove the pressure.
I agree with you Tim, on the part that we can be reached 24/7. There are times when i need my sister, but I cant reach her on her phone number, because she is out of minutes so I send her I message through facebook and she can easily see it.
I can definitely relate with time constraints and not joining groups. There’s a group for a cause that I am really, really passionate about, and they just started meeting this semester. However, they meet weekly, and I am so pressed for time as it is that I really can’t commit to the organization. So, there can be many legitimate reasons for people to not commit themselves to groups.
I think its important to note that people involved in religious organizations may be more likely to be involved with groups in a general sense, so we may not be studying a group of typical users to start with. This is true also of people with more education. Those with some college are more likely to work less hours than someone with less education, so they have more free time to be involved in something other than work and family. However, I do think that mobile phones and social networking platforms can aid an already involved person to be more involved.