Putnam (2000) distinguishes between bridging and bonding social capital. The
former is linked to what network researchers refer to as ‘‘weak ties,’’ which are loose
connections between individuals who may provide useful information or new perspectives
for one another but typically not emotional support (Granovetter, 1982).
Alternatively, bonding social capital is found between individuals in tightly-knit, emotionally
close relationships, such as family and close friends. After briefly describing the
extant literature on these two forms of social capital and the Internet, we introduce an
additional dimension of social capital that speaks to the ability to maintain valuable
connections as one progresses through life changes. This concept, ‘‘maintained social
capital,’’ permits us to explore whether online network tools enable individuals to keep
in touch with a social network after physically disconnecting from it.