internet sociometry

[Erica Hollander]

Anne, 

    That the internet serves some intense support needs was clearly demonstrated in a study I did of survivors of the loss of a loved one to suicide some years ago.  People of course use both face to face and online support for such purposes, but one reason for using online support  was its availability 24/7.  Some membrs of such online support groups continued their engagement in the groups for seven years or more,.  Support groups of various kinds engage at least 40% of Americans, but would respondents to a survey include the group members as friends in response to a survey question?  Maybe not if the question is framed in terms of "talking to" or, as the article puts it ,"discussing", yet communication scholars include email in the category of speech.  

What would be useful to know regarding the stats the article discusses, among other things, is whether the people responding to the survey included such relationships in their friend or confidant counts.  I tend to doubt that most people would.  Yet I don't think there can be any doubt that discussing the loss of a loved one to suicide is at its most valuable a kind of intimate emotional exchange.  

Some of my interpersonal communication students have told me that they don't believe they can have friendships without a face to face element.  

These are just some impressionistic responses to your topic.  I am not really trying to dispute the theme that we don't do enough serious relating in this country.  

Erica Hollander
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