One reason that people participate in social media is because it builds social relations. We increase our social capital when we successfully engage in social media. Social capital describes the networks of relationships we have that are built on mutuality and sharing of identity, understanding, norms and values. We build ties that may pay off with a job lead or a letter of recommendation. We reinforce our identities through our online presentation in a personal blog or our profile. “The premise behind the notion of social capital is rather simple and straightforward: investment in social relations with expected returns,” noted sociologist Nan Lin. Lin’s work stresses that it is who you know as much as what you know that shapes our experience in society. With new media, our reach of connecting is all the greater, expanding our “who you know” to greater and greater lengths.
* premise: 전제