ABSTRACT
Because of its global reach and rich multilingual context, the Internet has the potential to influence different types of social relations. Unlike the traditional mass media, the Internet has an open architecture which has restricted efforts by authorities to regulate Net activities. This, in turn, has provided immense freedom and space for its users and members to express their feelings about their particular interests. The Internet provides a technological infrastructure for computer-mediated communication (CMC) across both time and space, creating a new group communication environment, a form of virtual co-presence established as a result of individuals’ electronic interactions, creating a potential for virtual communities.
