Face-to-face and computer-mediated communities, a comparative analysis

In this article we combine the perspectives of sociology and computer scien ce to compare face-to-face (f2f) and computer-mediated communications (CMC) from the viewpoint of their respective abilities to form and sustain commu nities. We also identify a third type of community-a hybrid-that is based o n a combination of face-to-face (f2f) and CMC, or off- and online communica tions. The article thus in effect addresses an oft-asked question: Can virt ual communities be "real," have the same basic qualities as f2f communities ? The article Is exploratory, because much of the necessary evidence has no t yet been generated, and the relevant technologies are rapidly changing.