ABSTRACT

This chapter presents identity in hybrid communities from the perspective of social identity theory. It explores how members of the community of interest invoke their off-line/online identities in virtual spaces with specific interest in how they communicate their place-based identity over the Internet. The chapter describes foundations of social identity and reveals the overview of research on hybrid communities. Oaxaca Web Community (OWC) is considered a hybrid community because their members rely upon both electronic and face-to-face means for their communication. The chapter examines the physical and virtual form of interaction in OWC facilitates the representation of a various place-based identities in online settings. It shows that individuals in OWC shape their social identities based on the set of meanings and expectations they hold as community members i.e. members perceive their identity in terms of self-affiliation to the physical community of Oaxaca. The chapter extends that view by applying a socio-psychological theory in the examination of identity in hybrid communities.