Social interaction in virtual communities: the significance of technology

  • Authors:
  • Daniel Skog

  • Affiliations:
  • Department of Informatics, Umea University, S 901 87 Umea, Sweden

  • Venue:
  • International Journal of Web Based Communities
  • Year:
  • 2005

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Abstract

In this paper, it is argued that supporting technology influences the way interaction occurs in a virtual community. The empirical part of the study comprises interviews with visitors at LunarStorm, the most popular online community among young people in Sweden. The study highlights a specific feature within the software environment of LunarStorm and the empirical data show that this feature strongly influences community life. Based on these findings it is argued that there is a need for further studies that aim for increasing the knowledge about the role of the technology.