Caroline Haythornthwaite
This paper argues that consideration of the strength of ties between communicators
can help reconcile disparate results on the impact of new media on social
relations. It is argued from the research literature and studies by the author
that where ties are strong communicators can influence each other to adapt
and expand their use of media to support the exchanges important to their
tie; but where ties are weak communicators are dependent on common, organizationally-established
means of communication and protocols established by others. Due to this differential
use of media, a new medium that adds means and opportunities for previously
unconnected others to communicate will have positive effects on weak ties
and weak-tie networks, in particular by laying an infrastructure of latent
ties (ones that exist technically but have not yet been activated), and providing
an opportunity for weak ties to develop and strengthen. A new medium may also
have positive effects on strongly tied pairs where it adds another means of
communicating and supports the communication needs and tasks of the pair.
However, where a new medium replaces a former, common means of communication,
the dependence of weak ties on a common medium makes weak-tie networks highly
susceptible to dissolution. By contrast, strong tie networks, with their connections
via multiple relations and multiple media can be expected to be more robust
under conditions of change.