Identity and identification in online communities: A symbolic interaction perspective

Online communities provide a means for social interaction among persons with varying interests from different backgrounds. This paper examines issues of identity and identification in an online community, which has evolved to include other forms of online and offline interaction, through the lens of symbolic interactionism. The study uses a qualitative approach through content analysis and discusses key issues related to the inter-relationships between people, technology and their roles in the development of identities.