Does Broadband Connectivity and Social networking sites build and maintain social capital in rural communities?

TL;DR

This study investigates how broadband internet and social networking sites contribute to building social capital in rural communities, finding that SNS use significantly enhances bonding and bridging social capital.

Contribution

It provides empirical evidence that SNS usage in rural areas increases social capital, highlighting the specific impact of broadband connectivity on community cohesion.

Findings

SNSs build both bonding and bridging social capital in rural communities.

SNS users have higher levels of social capital than non-users.

Broadband access facilitates social networking and community engagement.

Abstract

Broadband internet access is a major enabling technology for building social capital (SC) by better connecting rural and regional communities which are often geographically dispersed both locally nationally and internationally. The main objectives of this paper were determine to what extent Social Networking Sites (SNS) can build SC for households in a rural and regional context of rural household adoption and use of broadband internet. A large scale survey of households was used to collect empirical data regarding household adoption and use of Broadband internet services including SNSs and their contribution to building SC in rural communities. The results of this study confirmed that SNSs would appear to build SC two high level dimensions bonding and bridging for households in rural communities such as Western Downs Region. Moreover SNS users would appear to have significantly higher levels of SC than Non-SNS users in rural communities.