Technology, networks and communities: An exploration of network and community theory and technosocial forms

Technologies such as the internet offer tremendous and potentially transformative possibilities for imagining and living with others. The possibility for new ways of being together raises the question of appropriate concepts, languages and theories to describe, analyse and engage with these social f...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Willson, Michele
Format: Journal Article
Published: Routledge: Taylor and Francis Group 2010
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/37060
_version_ 1848754943020761088
author Willson, Michele
author_facet Willson, Michele
author_sort Willson, Michele
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Technologies such as the internet offer tremendous and potentially transformative possibilities for imagining and living with others. The possibility for new ways of being together raises the question of appropriate concepts, languages and theories to describe, analyse and engage with these social forms and practices. Network and community concepts and rhetoric are most commonly employed for this purpose, yet the differences between them and the rationale for their specific uses are unclear. In order to gain a more nuanced and informed picture, this paper attempts a very broad overview of the fields of network and community theory particularly in relation to technologically mediated social practices. The intent is to begin mapping the uses, limitations and strengths of community and network theory. In the process, the paper will bring to light some of the tensions, issuesand concerns surrounding the analysis of technosociality.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T08:48:26Z
format Journal Article
id curtin-20.500.11937-37060
institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T08:48:26Z
publishDate 2010
publisher Routledge: Taylor and Francis Group
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling curtin-20.500.11937-370602017-09-13T15:55:05Z Technology, networks and communities: An exploration of network and community theory and technosocial forms Willson, Michele network theory virtual community social networks internet community theory Technologies such as the internet offer tremendous and potentially transformative possibilities for imagining and living with others. The possibility for new ways of being together raises the question of appropriate concepts, languages and theories to describe, analyse and engage with these social forms and practices. Network and community concepts and rhetoric are most commonly employed for this purpose, yet the differences between them and the rationale for their specific uses are unclear. In order to gain a more nuanced and informed picture, this paper attempts a very broad overview of the fields of network and community theory particularly in relation to technologically mediated social practices. The intent is to begin mapping the uses, limitations and strengths of community and network theory. In the process, the paper will bring to light some of the tensions, issuesand concerns surrounding the analysis of technosociality. 2010 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/37060 10.1080/13691180903271572 Routledge: Taylor and Francis Group restricted
spellingShingle network theory
virtual community
social networks
internet
community theory
Willson, Michele
Technology, networks and communities: An exploration of network and community theory and technosocial forms
title Technology, networks and communities: An exploration of network and community theory and technosocial forms
title_full Technology, networks and communities: An exploration of network and community theory and technosocial forms
title_fullStr Technology, networks and communities: An exploration of network and community theory and technosocial forms
title_full_unstemmed Technology, networks and communities: An exploration of network and community theory and technosocial forms
title_short Technology, networks and communities: An exploration of network and community theory and technosocial forms
title_sort technology, networks and communities: an exploration of network and community theory and technosocial forms
topic network theory
virtual community
social networks
internet
community theory
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/37060