SOCIAL CAPITAL AND VIRTUAL SOCIAL NETWORKS

Virtual social networks create new opportunities for individuals. Online communication in general and social networks have the potential to change communication costs, the number and the nature of the people who keep in touch and the nature of the messages that are exchanged between individuals. Because of this many researchers suggest that online communication and in social networks will affect one's social capital. The article examines the impact of social networks on social capital: its importance for maintaining existing relationships and creating new virtual social capital. For this purpose we consider several studies on the use of social networks and their impact on bridging and bonding social capital and creating a virtual one, thus we will outline new opportunities for in-depth social capital studies in virtual social networks.