Reference: Rainie & Wellman (2012) Networked: The new social operating system

1. Networked Relationship

2. From the last in-class
activity…
Guess…
What would be the average of
Active Personal Network Size
among Us in this classroom?

3. Here’s what I come up
with from your data
1,425
44.25
7
150
53

5. McPherson et al.’s
General Social Survey
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1984 2005
discussant
friend as confidant

6. Hampton’s Study
the size of close ties…
25% larger for mobile phone users
15% larger for occasional internet users
and even larger for frequent internet
users.

7. Why Different between the
Two Study?

8. Defining Personal
Networks: Closeness
“Closeness” means multi-dimension.
More than “discussing important
matters”
 Workmates
 Kinship
 Social Friends

9. Defining Personal
Networks: Fragmented
Different aspects of social life
“Sparsely-knit”

11. Defining Personal
Networks: Weak ties
A large size of “weakly-tied”
relationships
New information & diversity
Often provide valuable resources when
discussing important matters.

12. Personal Network:
Larger than you may
think.

14. Underestimation?
Dunbar’s number considers only
“cohesive group”
Even 1700 can under-estimate the size
of personal networks: Self-report and
recalling method
“Consequential Strangers”

15. Impact of Facebook (and
other ICTs) on P.N.?
More sustained contact with weaker ties.
Reconnections with someone once forgotten
Promotion of bridging (diversity) & bonding
(intimacy) ties.
Reshaping our self-identity
In line with Triple Revolution, Facebook
transforms from “place-to-place” to “person-
to-person” networks