A culture is learned human behaviors within a certain context or environment. An internet culture is a more defined type of culture in which is developed with the context of the internet. An Internet Culture is the development of a different set of rules and ways of interaction in an online community that become learned behaviors through the use of the internet rather than that of traditional face-to-face interaction. The way we interact online vs. face-to-face is very distinct just because of what the internet provides. The internet provides anonymity as well as easier access to finding other individuals with the same interests just through online browsing. Anonymity serves the full audience from introverts to extroverts who interact online well since they do not have to be physically present and expose their identity without consent. This allows for internet users to develop online social groups easily with other users of same likes or dislikes. An online community thus is formed and through interaction, a culture is created within.
My focus of study is on online support groups for individuals with disabilities, diseases, and/or issues that they are currently facing and are seeking support or answers to the various questions they may have. These online support groups function and serve the same purpose almost identical to those of traditional physical group meetings, with the exception that the audience is larger as well as diverse in various aspects of the word.
For this study, I decided to analyze Daily Strength which is one of the biggest online support group database. Daily Strength is an example of an internet culture because individuals learn how to interact with others in a different manner than the conventional way of sitting down to speak. Here, users are able to communicate freely the difficulties they are experiencing through the use of even the simplest language to the most refined terminology. Each topic has its own welcoming link in which describe the rules of the community and the way everything functions. Also, community leaders are introduced that help in managing and maintaining order. Overall, each support group community becomes a safe haven for those individuals seeking support and comfort that they are not alone.