Online communities lack the thick involuntary bonds of offline associations

Evidence

The internet is the ideal exit option for a general “exit society”—allowing people to make their “voice” heard, in Albert Hirschman’s sense, while always keeping open the possibility for citizens to drop out and check out. The stigma that comes with leaving a Facebook group or a Twitter subculture is minor compared to having to move out of a neighborhood because you scabbed during a strike. The internet did generate communities, of course, from meme groups to cookery sites. Yet the thickness and density of previous associations—to call them “voluntary” seemed misleading—was nowhere to be found online. — Arthur Borriello and Anton Jäger, The Populist Moment, 277

Categorization

• XREF: Echoes Robert Putnam’s bowling alone thesis and Hirschman’s exit/voice framework; ties to ch4’s disintermediation claim. — connects to: Disintermediation atomized society into isolated individuals — Arthur Borriello and Anton Jäger, The Populist Moment: The Left After the…, 82; Digital communities failed to replace lost physical association — Anton Jäger, Hyperpolitics: Extreme Politicization…, 97; Communication overload and shallow participation mask genuine community uprooting — James W. Carey, Communication as Culture- Essays on…, 569 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Digital communities failed to replace lost physical association #corroborates (0.95) — Anton Jäger, Hyperpolitics, 97
• Digital tools reinforce existing ties rather than create new communities #corroborates (0.85) — Robert D. Putnam, Bowling Alone The Collapse and Revival…, 598
• Communication overload and shallow participation mask genuine community uprooting #corroborates (0.80) — James W. Carey, Communication as Culture- Essays on…, 569