Social Networks In Virtual Communities

Based on the empirical research on BBS virtual communities of the Chinese Muslims website, this paper studied the basic interaction relation types and the characteristics of social networks in virtual communities, and tried to present the distinctive features of social networks in such a special field of cyberspace, thus probe the influences and meanings of the new community type on our society. The findings as follow:1,In Chinese Muslims BBS virtual communities, there are mainly weak-ties social networks between the members. According to the content of the relations, there are mainly four basic network types, discussion network, information network, emotion support network, and helping network. Among them, discussion network is the largest in size, information network and emotion support network come second, and helping network is the smallest.2,All the social networks in virtual communities are low in Density and Cohesion. This depends on the demands of the members. Comparatively speaking, virtual communities with practical function present a higher Density and Cohesion.3,there are two parallel structures in virtual communities, the whole structure is loose, flat, and de-centralized, while the core structure is much closer and centralized. Cohesive subgroups in virtual communities are small in size and few in quantity, and are dynamic and opening to the outside. The structures of cohesive subgroups are much different in the social network types. These structures give free rein to coagulating of the virtual communities and will not block the circulation of resources and information.4,Above all, the social networks virtual communities are unblocked in structure and various in types. They aggregate a great quantity of social resources and give the members a good platform to set up, expand and strengthen social networks. In the whole, the binding forms still remain at a low level cohesiveness with mainly strangers in virtual communities. It can provide a platform to develop "Gemeinschaft" of Ferdinand Tonnies, but this community type did not exist in reality.