Structuring a communication space on the Internet. Newsgroups, web sites and email

Abstract

Summary: In Internet communication, electronic writing is the only way to conduct relationships, in contrast to other communication situations such as telephone and face-to-face conversations. This means that participants are obliged to explain and manifest the structural elements of their interactions in writing. Written conversations have to formulate explicit substitutes for communication cues, such as tone of voice, body language and dress, that are implicit in everyday social interaction. From this point of view, the study of such conversations may throw some light on the mechanisms used for structuring social relations in general.