: Connectibility and geography on social network sites: a glance at the relations between territory and identity and on-line/off-line permeability based on Orkut

Abstract

territory and identity and on-line/off-line permeability based on Orkut — Digital con- nectedness has greatly facilitated distance communication in real time, so that physical space and geographical location appear to have become irrelevant. However, territorial references are still evident in many on-line interactions. This work seeks to describe and discuss the case of representations of off-line locations in on-line environments, emphasiz- ing the associations users establish with them and how they influence user interactions. To this end, a sample of Orkut communities was constructed to represent Brazilian states and capitals. An analysis was made of the descriptions of these communities and the activities in their fora. Our findings suggest that, although on-line interaction facilitates associations based on affinity, geographical space remains important due to the relevance of territorial references for the construction of identity and to the great permeability between on-line and off-line spaces.