1. eCommunities University of Kansas Chi-Hsun Chiu Jing Shen Katie Tooley Linda Un University of Costa Rica  Ana C. Alvarado  Diana Alvarado

2. Description & Critical Issue How are eCommunities such as Facebook, MySpace, eMatch and eHarmony and others being used? How do they affect relationships among people worldwide?

3. What is an eCommunity? An eCommunity is a Virtual Community WEB-BASED TOOLS THAT PROVIDE THE POSSIBILITY OF DYNAMIC & CONTINUOUS INTERACTION

4. How are eCommunities being used? On a personal note: Chat with friends Upload pictures & videos Post messages Redefine their roles Create relationships worldwide On a professional note: Create collaborative projects Allow conference meetings Receive feedback

5. How are relationships being affected? Virtual communities are so popular that they are starting to affect socialization dynamics and even relationships worldwide. The roles, explicit and implicit, that humans have used to determine behavioral rules and expectations are gradually disappearing and are being replaced by internet profiles. The cartoon shown here accurately depicts one of the current social changes.

6. The Costa Rica Scenario Costa Rican Internet eCommunity How are eCommunities such as Facebook, MySpace, eMatch and eHarmony and others being used? How do they affect relationships among people worldwide?

7. Costa Rican eCommunity Hi5 is THE most popular web community for Costa Ricans. 87,000 profiles for members between the ages of 19 and 27, and 60,000 profiles for members between the ages of 12 and 17. Adults over the age of 25 are around 8,000 members between the ages of 40 and 60

8. ADVANTAGES OF eCOMMUNITIES Communication in many areas, e.g. science, education, etc. Interaction is dynamic and continuous. One can keep track of old and new friends.

9. DISADVANTAGES OF eCOMMUNITIES Internet access is limited for most Costa Ricans Computers are not readily available Costa Ricans still prefer one-on-one communication Concern over safety measures to protect personal information

10. CHINA/TAIWAN & QQ QQ IM typical and influential in mainland China 530 million users 78% market share emerges as a modern cultural phenomenon

11. BENEFIT Cheap and convenient Some good affection on Chinese traditional culture and valuesLess time to deal with real life relationship  Feel free to make friends and set up romantic relationship  Express ideas directly Enhance life experience  Play different roles  Meet people far away

12. DISADVANTAGE Addiction  Less time to deal with real life relationship  A unhealthy life style Internet crime  Register numbers  Kidnap and sell people

13. Benefits & Disadvantages QQ IM Emerges as a modern cultural phenomenon  typical and influential in mainland China  530 million users  78% market share

14. BENEFITS Cheap and Convenient Reinforce and Enhance traditional culture and values Less time to deal with real life relationship  Feel free to make friends and set up romantic relationship  Express ideas directly Enhance life experiences  Have different QQ profile for every mood or role  Meet people far away

15. DISADVANTAGES Addiction  Disconnected from the “ outside world ”  An unhealthy life style Internet Crime  Kidnappings & Ransom  Identity Theft

16. USA & eDating Communities Online dating in the USA has become mainstreamed  55% of all single people are using an Online dating service  One of the fastest growing and lucrative service industries

17. Before eDating Singles met through LOCAL Connections  Newspaper//Phone/Business Standard Lingo (Ex:HWP=Height-Weight Proprotionate) Rupert Holmes “Pina-Colada/Escape Song” For Profit Dating Services  Family & Friends & TV Mutual Relationships TV: Love Connection, Blind Date, etc…  Work & Social Activities Office Romance Common Interests

18. Advantages to eDating Rejection is easier to handle, since dating profiles are first evaluated, not you Distance & Personal Differences are relative. Maintaining a long distance romance is possible Meet and communicate as many people regardless of your schedule. You search accordingly on your criteria for the “Right Person”

19. Disadvantages to eDating eDating companies have disreputable tricks to encourage more subscribers Can be expensive One is not guaranteed to find the “Right Person” eDaters are just as susceptible to real world dating trouble (scams, stalking, cheating) People exaggerate or lie in their profiles

20. THE END