ABSTRACT
The widespread diffusion of the Internet and related ICTs has focused increasing attention on their role in many sectors, including everyday life (Dutton et al., 2004). For many decades before the Internet’s inception, however, academics and pundits speculated on the social impact of a networked society (Sackman and Nie, 1970; Dutton et al., 1987; Castells, 1996; Dutton, 1999). In line with debate over technology in general (Mesthene, 1997), expectations have continued to range from optimistic Utopian scenarios that emphasise the positive implications of Internet diffusion for social interaction, civic involvement and social inclusion, to a pessimistic dystopian focus on the potential negative implications of Internet adoption for social isolation, disengagement and social exclusion.
