I’m intrigued by the notion of social capital, something I haven’t ever consciously named but think about a good deal. It feels good to hang out with people and socialize regularly. Similarly, it feels good (though in a different way) to interact with fellow humans within digital spaces. Taking these two notions of social capital and juxtaposing them creates the connective line of thought for all three of our readings. What Ellison, Lampe, Steinfield and Vitak begin in “With a Little Help from My Friends,” Burke, Kraut and Marlow continue in “Social Capital on Facebook…” There is great attention given to how online social interactions within the frame of SNSs, specifically Facebook, impact and coexist with offline social interactions. Does Facebook function similarly to a dating site where users meet one another and become friends? Do people use Facebook to support already existent offline relationships? The answer, found by these two articles, seems to favor the latter option, meaning that Facebook exists as a continuation of an already active offline network. Though, two strangers with the same mutual friend can enter into conversations facilitated and encouraged by “broadcasted” posts and become friends.

I enjoyed Burke, Kraut and Marlow’s classification of the three types of social interactions on Facebook: “directed communication, passive consumption, and broadcasting.” Directed communication is the most pointed, and my personal preference for interaction on Facebook. If someone posts “how are you, David?” on my timeline, I will always respond with a private message. Though unnecessary for this kind of simplistic chit-chat, I find the wall/timeline of Facebook a rather impersonal space designed mostly for broadcasting statements and performative/show-off conversations meant for the spectators in your friend list. As for SNSs being opportunities for less publicly extroverted individuals to shine and interact, it seems like an obvious bi-product of this kind of virtual space.

Lastly, I was moved by the approach of Vitak and Ellison’s “There’s a network out there you might as well tap: Exploring the benefits of and barriers to exchanging informational and support-based resources on Facebook.” The consideration of Facebook as a space that allows commiseration among those suffering ills and losses hit home for me. Also, Facebook as a kind of workshop where one can obtain information outside of a limited specialty of interest makes it a great place to exploit “bridging” relationships. The weak links, discussed early on in the class, between nodes can often carry some of the most valuable information since that weaker link represents a connection outside of one’s normal field of “bonded” interactions.