Syftet med den här uppsatsen är att undersöka var föräldrar kan söka stöd, råd och information som underlättar deras föräldraskap samt hur detta kan tolkas som olika  former av socialt kapital. Det visar sig tydligt att informationsteknologin med de nya möjligheter som internet innebär, har kommit att få en allt viktigare roll när det gäller att stötta dagens föräldrar. Forskningen inom detta område etablerades på 1990-talet och har visat att internet under 2000-talet har blivit ett allt viktigare forum för föräldrar som söker svar på frågor som rör barn och föräldraskap. Man har kunnat se att de flesta webbforumen vänder sig till kvinnor men att det på senare tid också dykt upp forum som riktar sig till män. De gemenskaper som bildas på nätet har visat sig främja socialt kapital i form av information, känslomässigt stöd och erfarenhetsutbyte. I den här uppsatsen har det visat sig att förutom allt det stöd som internet kan ge i föräldraskapet är fortfarande familjen och samhällets stöd helt avgörande för de flesta föräldrar.   Resultatet i denna studie visade att föräldraforumen genom sin ständiga tillgänglighet och möjlighet till erfarenhetsutbyte för många blivit ett viktigt komplement till det stöd som familj, vänner och välfärdssamhället på olika sätt utgör. På grund av tonen och språkbruket i en del forum kan man spåra en viss tveksamhet och kluvenhet inför att aktivt delta i vissa forum. Denna dubbelhet och tendens till social nedvärdering av de som deltar i vissa forum har inte kunnat iakttas i tidigare forskning. Detta kan möjligen bero på att intervjupersonerna inte är utvalda därför att de är aktiva deltagare på föräldraforumen. Studien använder sig av en kvalitativ metod där totalt 10 föräldrar har intervjuats.

The purpose of this Master’s thesis is to describe how Swedish public libraries use Web 2.0-tools and their experiences of using the tools. Focus of the study lies in the contact between public libraries and their patrons on the Web 2.0-tools. For the purposes of the study, the use of weblogs and MySpace were chosen for examination. The methodology used for this study was qualitative interviews. Eight qualitative interviews were conducted with public librarians in seven public libraries in Sweden. The theoretical frame for this thesis consists primarily of theories on social networks and virtual communities. Results of this study indicate that using weblogs and MySpace in public libraries are resourceful means to connect with patrons in new ways. It is concluded that, weblogs are mainly used for mediating fiction and MySpace for marketing library services. Weblogs are not seen as places for networking while MySpace is. The contacts created on the Web 2.0-tools are weak since the communication is scarce. The study also shows that in order to increase patrons’ low use of the Web 2.0-tools, the libraries need to regard them as online communities and broaden their target group. This information can be of significance for other public libraries who intend to start using weblogs and MySpace. / Uppsatsnivå: D

The purpose of this Bachelor’s thesis is to describe and analyze the implementation of Facebook in a public library. A case study consisting of qualitative interviews and studies of documents containing goals for the library has been conducted at a public library going through the process of implementing Facebook in their operations. The theoretical framework for this study consists of Everett M. Rogers’s stages of the innovation-decision process and his characteristics of innovations as perceived by individuals. Results of this study show that communication with users and the achievement of existing goals are the informants’ main reasons for implementing Facebook. The process of implementing Facebook in the library is short and simple. The process is seen as dynamic, where a plan of actions is written that can and will be revised as the situation changes. The informants are generally very positive in regards to using Facebook in their library’s operations. They do not see any immediate problems with doing so.

The Swedish national regulations and advice that the Covid-19 pandemic has entailed have resulted in individuals staying at home to a greater extent. This has led to individuals not having physical social interactions to the same extent as before the pandemic. These limitations have meant that digital technology has become an important role in today's society where individuals in virtual groups and virtual communities have had their social needs met online rather than in real life. This is a qualitative survey in which results are based on six semi-structured interviews and 192 questionnaire responses. The respondents consist of adults living in Sweden. Results show that participation in gaming-based voice-mediated online communities helps individuals to fullfil their social needs as well as reduce feelings of loneliness and depression. The availability of such communities enables them to replace social contact when it is otherwise impractical to meet in real life, for example during the Covid-19 pandemic or when the individuals are geographically separated. Individuals in gaming-based voice-mediated online communities have often been attached to other members for a long time, the interactions are not limited to gaming and they can integrate individuals in these communities to their offline-life. They also have greater control over when and for how long they participate along with flexibility which allows the participants to decide how involved in the conversation they wish to be at any given time. Through internet-based communication individuals can selectively and strategically present themselves, which in a positive way distorts the perception between the individuals and result in more intimate and intensive conversations.