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Abstract:
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A blog webring is a self -organized online network that bloggers can join based on its thematic description . Drawing upon the theory of homophily in interpersonal communication , this paper examines webring themes and explores how they may be related to the salient characteristics in human identity to which people pay more attention in online communication . Research results suggest that blogs in a webring with a mixed theme or a theme based on acquired status are associated with a higher level of conversationality , with more embedded webring -bounded hyperlinks and more member comments . Bloggers from webrings of these two types of themes reportedly have a closer social relationship with other members . They are also more positive about the likelihood of getting social support from within their webrings . In general , people are not constrained by the limited interactivity offered by blogs ; many of them employ not only other online , but also offline means of communication for interactions . As webring members , people believe that much more social support is available than they originally anticipated , and the specific types of social support that are perceived to be available are not determined by how easily they may be delivered online . This study overall supports the view that meaningful social relationships are developed and maintained on the Internet , which is essentially an extension of people’s daily lives . It also underscores the necessity that contextual specificity be privileged in future research on people’s online communication . |