| Chapter 1: | Introduction |
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For example, in a study of an electronic support group for individuals with eating disorders, Winzelberg (1997) reports that:
Accordingly, many theorists contend that electronic social networks and CMC liberate individuals from the confines of physical place, time, and appearance. A physical meeting place has certain hours of operation or a specific meeting time; by contrast, the structure of electronic social networks provides the opportunity to receive support at an actor’s own convenience or when s/he most needs it. Someone seeking the support of an experientially similar or dissimilar other can log on to a forum or chat room that caters to that need whenever it arises. The connections made with far-reaching others, such as those in other countries on different time schedules or other night owls, make it possible that someone will be online day or night (Rodgers & Chen, 2005; Weinberg et al., 1996). Moreover, unlike connecting by telephone, an individual can reach out at any time without considering whether the timing is convenient for someone else.