Cooperation and Conflicts in the Internet’s Social Networks

Abstract

Social network is a set of interpersonal relationships consisting of two basic elements: social agents, network nodes and the connections between them. The dynamic network structure is transformed by emerging patterns of interaction. Although several web sites provide a platform for the formation of social networks, the networks formed around gospel music sharing in Multiply have many particular traits worthy of being investigated in current case study. The sharing of digital music on this site occurs within relationships of cooperation and conflict that go beyond the boundaries of cyberspace and are directly affected by the participants’ religious guidance. The cooperation in the exchange of knowledge and music was analyzed through the study of non-rival property, gift culture and collective intelligence. Sharing has caused much conflict with the recording industry, manifested in continuous court suits by Multiply to prevent the practice. Answers always consist of by-activities of interagents. The conceptual distinction between communication and information power is discussed. The lack of association between cooperation and conflict is fundamental for transformations in the communication, economic, organizational and social fields encouraged by the intersection between the human and the technological aspects in computer-mediated interaction.