Abstract
Social capital is defined as the set of connections among individuals-social networks and the expectation of generalized reciprocity and general trust that arise from them. In this paper, I investigate both the causes and the consequences of social capital supplied by the Internet, based upon the results of some social surveys. First, I review some research on the effect of the Internet use from the perspective of social psychology. Second, I demonstrate that social activities in online communities increase social capital. Third, concerning consequences, I examine whether the social capital offers benefits to individuals as well as the collective. The results suggest that the mobilization of social resources embedded in social networks in online communities increases psychological well-being and satisfaction in their decision-making. These results also show the possibility that activities in online communities may lead to empowerment and social resolution. Finally, I discuss some negative effects of social capital supplied by the Internet on both the micro-level and macro-level.
