Welcome to the Neighborgrid

Our concept of a social network has evolved tremendously since the advent of “computer-mediated communication” (Wellman, p54). We no longer visit with our neighbors by walking around, visiting on the front porch, or stopping in for tea and cookies. We are all way too busy for that. But we haven’t forgone neighborly interaction. We have, in fact, increased our social scope to include people we would not otherwise have had interaction with. Wellman refers to this as a “network of networks.” (p 54).

We still communicate with friends and family in person, but also through electronic means. In addition, we are communicating with friends of friends, family we don’t see, or who live far away, as well as communicating with complete strangers we meet online, or through a special interest group. We can send email to someone in a different part of the world, perhaps having seen something they wrote, and choosing to respond to it.

Wellman asks, “Are online relationships as good as face-to-face relationships?” Probably not, but at least we are still talking. In our transitional, mobile society it is sometimes the glue that holds us together. We no longer have time for letter-writing, or stopping at a Pub to spend the evening with friends. So we email and text-message. We haven’t lost our humanity with such contact; it is merely a part of our communication evolution. After all, “Internet accounts and Mobile Phone numbers are people-based and not place-based” Our communities are changing: “from being a social network of households to a social network of individuals” (Wellman, p 55). This is the new neighborhood.

Teenagers were early adopters of modern electronic communications. It has changed their social circles and interactions dramatically. They can now communicate and assemble in new ways not available to them in the past. They can “conduct conversations that can’t be overheard.” (Rheingold, p 4). They can now “…construct a networked alternative space that is available from anywhere they are.” (Rheingold, p 5). This hasn’t replaced interpersonal interaction, but has, rather, enhanced it by adding another layer to the social fabric. Teens use text-messaging to say things they might not have the courage to say in face-to-face interaction (Rheingold, p 16). Rheingold states: “Such chatting hardly resembles real exchange of information or even intercourse, as much as merely sharing one’s life with others in real time.” (p 16) He goes on to quote a 17 year old college student, Tammy Reyes: “If I don’t receive a text when I wake up or I receive only a few messages during the day, I feel as though nobody loves me enough to remember me during the day.” (p 21). This shows how important the new means of communication has become to at least a segment of our society. Remember, these teens are the ones who will be running our society when they are adults. They will be bringing this technology with them and helping shape our society as they go.

Perhaps the role of text-messaging is best expressed by the Norwegian ethnologist, Truls Erik Johnsen: “The content is not that important. The message has a meaning in itself, it is a way of showing the recipient you’re thinking of him (or her).” (Rheingold, p 25).

So whatever means we can, we find a way to stay in touch with others. We seem to have a need as a society and as individuals to communicate with others. We have moved from drumming and smoke signals to writing and telephoning, and now to emailing and text-messaging. The new electronic communication methods are just the latest means of staying in touch, and sharing our neighborgrid.

References:

Wellman, B. (2005) Community: From neighborhood to network. Communications of the ACM, 53-55.

Rheingold, H. (2002) Shibuya epiphany (pp1-28). Smart mobs. New York: Perseus.