Facebook started as a means for University students to share work and information, class work and events amongst themselves. Once the SNS became very popular it spread to other Universities high schools and buisness' before becoming public. Facebook now is widely used amongst millions even billions of users to remain in contact with their own private network of friends and family, business or school. Applications are available for one to join and be apart of and link new people with its current members.
The article states that 'the typical user spends about 20 minutes a day on the site, and two-thirds of users log in at least once a day (Cassidy, 2006: Needham & Company, 2007)' (Ellison, Steinfield, Lampe, 2007: 1144).
The study that these authors did was to show 'Facebook as a research context in order to determine whether offline social capital can be generated by online tools. The results of our study show that Facebook use among college-age respondents was significantly associated with measures of social capital' (Ellison, Steinfield, Lampe, 2007: 1145).
Social capital is a positive effect usually seen in the relationships involved in social networks. These networks provide members and non-members access to resources outside of their immediate work, groups or personal relationships, thus providing individuals with more means and connections. Studies have shown that people who have good social capital also have good well being and self esteem (Ellison, Steinfield, Lampe, 2007: 1146).
The idea that the internet and SNSs decrease the face to face connection and gives a negative result for social capital the benefits of SNSs have been proving to be beneficial to the community at large. Thus allowing people with poor social skills to gain confidence in maintaining connections and becoming more involved with the community or group. 'It is clear that the Internet facilitates new connections, in that it provides people with an alternative way to connect with others who share their interests or relational goals' (Ellison, Steinfield, Lampe, 2007: 1147). The may show that people with low self esteem can endure this communication and 'encourage more self-disclosure' (Ellison, Steinfield, Lampe 2007: 1147).
Therefore, this study showed us that 'there is a positive relationship with certain Facebook use and the maintenance and creation of social capital' (Ellison, Steinfield, Lampe 2007: 1161).
