Making the community a hospitable place identity, strong bounds and self-organisation in web-based communities

Abstract

Web-based communities rely on technology use, but supplying technology does not automatically lead to its use: virtual communities need a 'virtual home' in order to exist. What measures can be taken to make a technical platform a well-frequented and 'hospitable' place? We present two case studies of web-based communities, which are both characterised by strong bounds and a high degree of self-organisation. Results show that processes of identity building among community members play a major role regarding their technology adoption and use. To analyse these processes, we draw on the 'classical' social psychological approach of social identity as a new view on web-based communities. We show that the development of a common identity among members is a crucial agent of successful technology use in self-organised communities. Based on our findings, we propose measures to foster identity and hospitality in web-based communities.