Effects of ICT on social cohesion: The cyburg case

Abstract

We study the effects of local community networks on social capital and participation in a heterogeneous urban neighborhood. We found that the effects of ICT use on social capital are dependent on education and income, and that the use of neighborhood infrastructures is low, as the systems were very much a top-down initiative. We discuss the implications for designing and organizing systems that aim a social cohesion and supporting social capital. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.