ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the question: What is it about the online environment that makes it unique. To consider the nature of the Internet's power in creating a unique psychological space, the chapter presents it into seven factors: feeling of anonymity, control over level of physical exposure, high control over communications, ease in locating like-minded people, accessibility and availability at all times and places, feeling of equality and fun of web surfing. The Internet medium gives people control over communications between themselves and social contacts, and over the content of the messages they did like to make known. Since its first days, the Internet has been considered an arena of equality. Many believe that teamwork and the feeling of togetherness were what brought about the "big bang" of the Internet as an egalitarian medium. Surfing the net is enjoyable. As websites compete for the public's interest, time, and money, the result is a growing investment in improving the user experience.
