Blog Overview Blogger Profiles Event Calendar

You can also visit our other sites:

EmployeeWellness.ca WellnessFair.ca Workplace Wellness Info on NaturalHealthcare.ca
| Share: | more

Online interactions have positive effects for real-life communities

A study on online interactions reveals the intersection between online communication and the offline world form two halves of a support mechanism for communities.
Photo: computer mouseAccording to two University of Illinois professors, Caroline Haythornthwaite and Lori Kendall who study computer-mediated communication and the Internet, most people have the idea that Facebook, Twitter and other social networking web sites are used for personal use only .  

Haythornthwaite and Kendall state there are positive outcomes that come from online interactions and not only to the individual but there are benefits to real-life and place-based communities.  They also stated that online communication and the offline world form two halves of a support mechanism for communities.  

Before, studies focused solely on online-only experiences.  The Internet was considered a separate realm, it was not seen as a serious avenue for work or business.  However, as the number of Internet users increases, the online world and the offline world intertwines with everyday life.  As a result of this a brilliant and very important communication and information portal has been created.   

Online communication is a way to build and strengthen local relationships and local identities that build networks of interacting individuals who are aware of each other, says Haythornthwaite.  

From social networking, to civic participation, to community support during emergencies, to providing on-the-ground information in disaster areas, the professors say that the rapid development and widespread use of online technologies – for communicating and networking, for contributing and distributing content, and for storing, sharing and retrieving files – are creating ties that bind for offline communities.

On the other hand, people who want to research information about a particular topic may find and build new, non-local relationships as well.  They may also become part of a specific culture when they interact with those individuals.  

Creating web pages has also become a cheaper alternative to traditional publishing, making it even easier to share information about various topics.   

Kendall states that when you are online you can easily ignore opinions that you do not agree with, however when you are offline you get involved with your local community and network leaving it difficult to deal with identities, experiences, and opinion.  

“To a certain degree, all communities are ‘imagined communities’ – that is, our sense of being part of a community is always something we must create in ourselves, and it often occurs through media.â€



Next post: High levels of burnout among UK family doctors, especially in group practice 2012-01-31 08:59:19

Don't forget: there is a search box on every page!

Recent Posts:

High levels of burnout among UK family doctors, especially in group practice

Depersonalized doctors: A cross-sectional study of 564 doctors, 760 consultations and 1,876 patient reports in UK general practice

Majority groups support assimilation -- except when they are not majorities

It is hard to integrate a society to maintain minority identities and not make the majority feel their values are being rejected

Color-coding, rearranging food products improves healthy choices in hospital cafeteria

Labeling all foods and beverages with a simple red, yellow and green color scheme to indicate their relative healthiness led patrons to purchase more of the healthy items

If you plan, then you will accomplish... but it helps to have a friend

Partnering up or planning with someone can really boost the likelihood of sticking to your resolutions

Sky light sky bright -- inside your office

New LED ceiling mimics sky, natural lighting for improved mental health
Call us for more information: In Toronto and Area call 647.723.6381 or call 1.866.395.8904 Toll-free. Dial answer group (ext) 3.
| Share: | more
Wellergize Latest Tweet:
wellergize: #workplacewellness daily is out! http://t.co/tSMMEA6j â–¸ Top stories today via @ergoplus @skilven - about 2 hours ago
Who has used Wellergize Products and Services? Suncor, for one. Ask us how we can help your organization.
contact us contact us

Contacting us:
In Toronto and Area call 647.723.6381
or call 1.866.395.8904 toll-free.
Dial answer group (ext) 4.

You can also use the form on the Contact Us page to request information on specific workplace wellness topics.