Analysis of Online Social Networking When Studying the Identities of Local Communities

Abstract

The chapter discusses new avenues for analysing identity on the basis of a social networking analysis, opening up in connection with digitalisation. The first issue addressed is whether there is a conceptual framework or model that is both representative enough and sufficiently adequate in terms of complexity for use with the experimental tools under consideration. The second issue is whether there are adequate approaches available to analyse the identities of local communities on the basis of social networking data. A review of the modern social networking analysis methods and applications relevant to the problem at hand is presented as well as the difficulties and limitations connected to such analysis, prompted by technical, legal and ethical aspects.