Social capital in the Internet era across societies: Development, inequality and netizen’s advantage

Using the 2017 module of International Social Survey Program (ISSP), we explore the differences in individual social capital between netizens and non-netizens across seven countries and make a tentative analysis of how varying degrees of economic development and inequality are associated with social capital and netizen’s advantage in social capital. We find that netizens have higher social capital than non-netizens in six ISSP member countries, supporting a common social compensation effect. Second, national economic development is positively associated with social capital but the netizen’s advantage in social capital is lower in more advanced economies. Third, national economic inequality is negatively associated with social capital while the netizen serves as a protective role in offsetting its negative influence on social capital.