Many people view the Internet with caution and even concern -- perhaps rightly so when we consider the problems associated with this powerful tool and resource.

Parents worry about the effects of children spending too much time online, especially with the threat of grooming by Internet paedophiles who want to develop relationships with children. Then of course there is the curse of spam mail, clogging up inboxes around the globe. Most of the spam we receive is irrelevant and offensive.

Overshadowed by these things, we can forget that the Internet is having powerful, positive effect on our lives. A new report commissioned by The Work Foundation underlines these positive changes.

Entitled You don't know me but... Social Capital and Social Software, the report examines the way that the social softwares -- e-mail, online diaries and weblogs -- are changing the way we relate and socialise with family and friends, at work, and in our communities.

The report explains that social software is supporting mainstream organisations and communities. The best users of social software have learned from their everyday relationships and use social software to bridge the gap between online and offline. This way, people are able to integrate the humanity of face-to-face networking with the usefulness of the Internet.

Report author William Davies said that people want to make the Internet work for them in a positive and productive way, and this is starting to happen. "The idea of a virtual life makes no sense to most people in Britain: they don't really want to get married, meet new people, or make money entirely on the Internet. Instead they want to make the Internet work for them. Social software which understands how people like to live their lives can help bring the virtual world back home."

The report argues that social software has the ability to help individuals and organisations capitalise on the growing economic significance of informal networks by sharing information, recording communication and introducing people to new contacts.

The report says that a deeper understanding of how groups and networks operate is needed to fulfil the longer-term promise of the Internet to bring people together.

However, as Mr Davies explains: "People are finally ditching the 'two-worlds' view, which separates the Internet from everyday life, and now realise the two are part of one picture."

He says that people are able to exchange local and useful information to those who need it and can benefit from it. In that sense, the Internet is having an important and beneficial role in our day-to-day social lives. For example, the Internet is used by amateur clubs and local associations to share information, promote activities and mobilise at a grassroots level. Opinion sites mobilise political thinking at a grassroots level, while arts and culture sites focus on discussion and promotion.

The report seems to allay somewhat the believe that people would spend too much time online and not enough time in real and meaningful communication with family and friends.

"Social software is being used to support real world interaction and is enhancing face-to-face contact rather than departing from it," said Mr Davies.

The report is part of The Work Foundation's i-Society project which looks at how technologies such as the net and mobile phones are affecting the lives of people in the UK.

Log on to the North-East's community sites at www.communigate.co.uk/ne The Work Foundation's website can be found at www.theworkfoundation.com

Published: 27/06/2003