Before examining where Eons lies with reference to strong and weak ties, first, we must define what represents the strength of a tie. According to Mark Granovetter, the strength of a tie is a combination of the amount of time, the emotional intensity, the intimacy, and the reciprocal services which characterize the tie. Even though Eons is the initial meeting for many of its members, the network still has the potential to allow users to form strong and weak ties.
WEAK TIES
As members of a virtual community, Eons users most likely communicate with their fellow members on a need basis. Each member has the advantage of posting their ideas on message boards and their blog and wait for a response. Other members respond to those posts and provide some type of support. For the most part, users probably enjoy having connections as these. They know that they can vent to each other and receive advice without having to worry about forming best friend relationships. These weak ties are beneficial for a lot situations on Eons. When members simply want to exchange ideas or meet new friends, loose ties are in demand. Preece makes a comment that sums up this whole idea:
“The important point to make about weak ties is that they are relatively easy to maintain, and can be important for obtaining information, making new contacts, raising awareness of new ideas, and so on.”
STRONG TIES
While it is true that the majority of the connections formed on Eons will be weak ties, there still remains a possibility for strong ties to exist. Strong ties are known to survive between family members and friends in the physical world. Yet, it is possible for people to create these connections in virtual communities, as well. Online Communities tells us that:
“Many online relationships exhibit strong ties similar to offline relationships in that they are marked by: frequency, companionable contact, mutual reciprocity, supportiveness, and longevity. Some participants come to feel that their closest friends were members of their electronic group whom they seldom or never saw,” (177).
Eons members definitely have the opportunity to form these strong ties, but it is up to them to decide if they will be established. Users may favor some members over others, which may lead them to communicate more with each other as if they were friends in the physical world.
