In search of “networks that matter”: social networks and social capital in the Twitter

Abstract

This paper explores the types of social capital that are appropriate by Brazilian users of the Twitter and its influence in the social networks perceived in the system, from three sets of data – the analysis of 622 messages, a questionnaire with 903 answers and the mapping of an ego centered network. The results point to two predominant uses (information and conversation) as forms of social capital directly related to the objectives of the four sub types of social networks.