Introduction
In modern society, social networking services have become a significant foundation for people to shape and maintain communities. In these communities, not only strong bonds such as family or close friends in schools or club activities, but also weak connections with online friends or followers are playing an important role in collecting information and providing mental support. Furthermore, social networks tend to create an environment where users can express themselves more freely because those platforms provide them with anonymous and physical distances. In these situations, behaviours and expressions differ from those in ordinal communication held in face-to face, leading to significant change in how they present themselves in online communities.
Thus, this paper will study how to expand weak relationships and changes in self- expression on social networks, creating new friendships different from real-world interactions.
What is a “Tie”?
Although the word “tie” is used in everyday conversation in any situation, its concept has a variety of meanings among different relationships. Igarashi (2009) sees the social environment we live in as a “social network” which consists of relationships with friends, acquaintances, and others [1]. In other words, she states that connection, especially ties, is a concept, showing natural connections with others.
In addition, Yodono, who studies the community development field (2009) understands that ties hold three elements such as interaction both inside and outside the community, community for exchange of information and learning, and emotional empathy [2]. These ties reflect that connection includes not only interaction, but also social and psychological expansion. Moreover, she states that ties are categorized as three groups such as solidarity, emotional empathy, and social networks. In particular, solidarity, discussed by Durkheim (1989), refers to the social bonds shaped by people’s interactions daily and influence with each other [3].
Thus, even though ties have multiple aspects of level, one example that includes particular importance in modern society is the weak tie. Weak ties are not as close as family or friends, but have a function of providing new information and opportunities. This allows them to become important in the modern time to spread social networking services. Online communities easily create relaxed spaces with people sharing their interests or hobbies, these platforms provide those people new communities of ties different from traditional face- to- face relationships.
The Function of Weak Ties on Social Networks and Changes in Users’ Attitude
Weak ties play an important role in modern society in providing access to a wider range of information and new opportunities for interaction that cannot be experienced in face- to- face situations. These features have been made stronger by appearance in social networking services. The research conducted by Ishii (2011) finds that Japanese online users evaluate highly anonymous platforms, especially Twitter, where they enjoy weak ties interaction [4]. This research suggests that Japanese people tend to like relaxed relationships without depending on their real name ties, and enjoy anonymous ties which separate them from real world relationships.
However, another research finds that the meaning of weak ties on social networks has changed. Takaya (2017) reports that users tend to use platforms to keep friendships on Twitter, where a social network creates weak ties studied by Ishii [5]. In addition, Murakami (2018) shows users’ psychological motivation that users want someone to see posts even without reaction and their emotional sympathy with connecting someone somewhere [6]. He makes clear that users on social networks provide not only a place for information exchange, but also psychological support to meet desire for loneliness.
According to these researches, social networks services have been expanding its role from a space to enjoy anonymous weak ties to space for keeping their friendships and meeting their emotional gap. In addition, current social networks play a role not only in direct interaction, but also in indirect connection through the same topics or interests in today’s massive information environment. These changes reflect that weak ties have gained new meaning on social networks services and become a major factor for shaping modern communities.
Deindividualism on Online Community
The background of this weak ties playing a significant role on social networking services comes from a unique feature of anonymous and deindividualization. Traditionally, Sproull and Kiesler (1984) state that computer- mediated communication (CMC) has been thought to provide weaker social interaction than face-to- face communication because nonverbal communication decreases [7]. In these situations, group identity tends to take the main stage over individual identity. This is the phenomenon known as “deindivisualization”. Previous research suggests that anonymity makes responsibility weaker as individuals in a group do not know who they are, making them more likely to act violently. It has been the same idea that people feel comfortable when saying things they would not say under their real name, knowing they will not be identified.
Thus, when anonymity hides personal details like name, age, or status, people become more aware of which community they belong to. As a result, users tend to act their behavior with their group such as a favorite idol’s fan community, gaming friends, or a social networks group sharing the same hobby, naturally adopting behaviors that the group thinks acceptable.
Considerations
This paper studies how social networks services gradually expand weak ties and how anonymity and deindividualization in these platforms change users’ behavior and self- expressions. As some research shows, weak ties have been thought to provide information and new opportunities. However, the appearance of social networks significantly changed this idea. Although users reduce personal pain through anonymity, they develop a strong sense of belonging with specific communities or groups sharing the same interest. This promotes friendships different from traditional face- to- face relationships. This situation makes us consider the traditional understanding that weak ties represent superficial relationships. While anonymity and deindividualization lower the psychological barrier for weak ties on social networks services, they are increasingly meeting the role of satisfying desires such as wanting someone to see me and wanting to connect with people who share the same interests. In other words, weak ties are gradually changing from being a place for information exchange to a place for gaining emotional support.
In conclusion, weak ties on social networks are shaping a new community different from real world relationships. Anonymity does not only encourage irresponsible behavior, it strengthens users’ sense of belonging to a group, enabling new forms of friendships and connection to the online.
References
[1] H. Igarashi. “Everyday life and social ties” in “Psychology Useful for Health and Daily Life” Y. Kanemasa and E. Ohtake, Eds. Tokyo, Hokujyu Shuppan, 2009, p. 137- 146
[2] J. Yodono, “Battle and Connections” Monthly Social Education, 2009, p. 64- 69
[3] S. Yari, “An examination of the concept of connection in community building” Rissho Journal of Social Welfare Studies, p. 38- 41
[4] K. Ishii, “Strong ties and weak ties on SNS: A comparison of self-disclosure and interpersonal relationships” Journal of Information and Communication Studies, 2011, 19E011井内美佑.pdf, accessed on 2025/ 11/ 17
[5] K. Takaya, “Does social media generate new connections? A study on the usage patterns of female college students” Nagoya Junior College Research, 2017, 19E011井内美佑.pdf, accessed on 2025/ 11/ 17
[6] N. Murakami, “Transformation of youth communication through smartphone use (Part 1 & Part 2): Has SNS changed young people’s sensibilities?” The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ibaraki University, 2018, 19E011井内美佑.pdf, accessed on 2025/ 11/ 17
[7] ] Kiesler, S., Siegel, J. and McGuire, T. “Social psychological aspects of computer-mediated communication”, American Psychologist, 1984
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