We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Social Control in Online Communities of Consumption: A Framework for Community Management.
- Authors
Sibai, Olivier; Valck, Kristine; Farrell, Andrew M.; Rudd, John M.
- Abstract
Online communities of consumption (OCCs) represent highly diverse groups of consumers whose interests are not always aligned. Social control in OCCs aims to effectively manage problems arising from this heterogeneity. Extant literature on social control in OCCs is fragmented as some studies focus on the principles of social control, while others focus on the implementation. Moreover, the domain is undertheorized. This article integrates the disparate literature on social control in OCCs providing a first unified conceptualization of the topic. The authors conceptualize social control as a system, or configuration, of moderation practices. Moderation practices are executed during interactions operating under different governance structures (market, hierarchy, and clan) and serving different purposes (interaction initiation, maintenance, and termination). From this conceptualization, important areas of future research emerge and research questions are developed. The framework also serves as a community management tool for OCC managers, enabling the diagnosis of social control problems and the elaboration of strategies and tactics to address them.
- Subjects
SOCIAL media in marketing; SOCIAL control; VIRTUAL communities; CONSUMER culture; SOCIAL groups research; CONFLICT management; MARKETING
- Publication
Psychology & Marketing, 2015, Vol 32, Issue 3, p250
- ISSN
0742-6046
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/mar.20778