Community Information

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Community Information and Social Integration in
Locally Based Mailing Lists
Yael Levanon Dep. of Sociology and
Anthropology University of Haifa
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How does broad CIT implementation affect the
contemporary community?
Concerns Internet use is a time-consuming
activity, which might replace time spent on
neighborly relations and community involvement.
Thus, internet use might decrease community
participation and involvement.
Expectations CMC in geographically based
communities has the potential to support and
develop FTF community relations. Thus, CIT
might solve problems associated with decreased
community participation.
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Community Networking The process by which
computer supported communication serves the local
geographic community and responds to the needs of
that community
(ONeil,
2001).
Community Networks can
Increase social capital by promoting civic
engagement and interaction
between citizens.
Empower individuals in the community.
Enhance citizens participation in local politics.
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The Lists
Place Modiin and Ramat Beit Shemesh - Suburbs of
Jerusalem. Established around 1995, by local
residents. Purposes Sharing information among
residents, providing information to prospective
residents on the location of facilities in the
suburb, and supporting local businesses and
community services. Language Messages are posted
in English. Subscribed members around 300 in
each list (Feb. 2001) Rules all subscribed
members can post messages, moderators hardly
interfere. Volume of messages (Feb. 2001)
RBS998, Modiin202.
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Data collection
Subscription to the lists and following the
messages posted on the lists for a few months.
Interviews with list moderators. Content
analysis of all messages posted on both lists
during one randomly sampled month (1190 messages
in both lists, posted by 401 different users).
Web survey of mailing list users. N153,
response rate was 38.? Interviews with
moderators and municipality officials.
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Who are the users?
Age average 38.24, s.d.9.5, range
23-69 Education mean16.6 years, s.d.2.3 years
Family status 88 were currently married with an
average of 2.34 children living at home.
Lifestyle 68 orthodox, 15 secular, 14
conservative. Place of birth 80.4 English
speaking countries, 10.5 were born in
Israel. Language 15.7 Hebrew, 81 English or
Hebrew and English.
Length of membership in the list 24 less than a
year, 64 1-4 years, 12, more than 4 years.
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What are the lists all about?
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Distribution of mailing list uses
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Conclusions
The lists encourage subscribers participation,
interaction and involvement in the communities,
and thus enhance community social capital. In
both communities the mailing list proved to play
a role in improving the social integration of
individuals into the extended community, not by
replacing but rather by complementing other
community contexts.
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Future research prospects
? Examining the real geographical communities
residents, institutions and activities.
? Longitudinal analysis Exploring the manner in
which the list has affected issues relating to
development and change in the communities
investigated.
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Information flow, gathering and distribution
Community Networking Mailing list membership
Community Social Capital. Social Integration.
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For further information Mesch, Gustavo and Yael
Levanon (2003). Community Networking and
Locally-Based Social Ties in Two Suburban
Localities City and Community. 2, 335-353.