The effect of LINE use on social capital and resilience

Abstract

  This study consisted of panel surveys of 500 university students at two points of time, with the aim of investigating the effects of LINE use on social capital and resilience. According to the results, the following effects were confirmed: (1) LINE use amounts increased reciprocity on LINE, and the sense of belonging created a sense of trust on LINE, suggesting that LINE use may increase social capital; (2) Reciprocity on LINE was found to increase resilience, suggesting the possibility that a portion of the social capital generated through LINE may serve to increase resilience. The study results in total thus suggest that LINE use fosters social capital; the higher this social capital, the higher the resilience of individual LINE users.