Virtualization of interpersonal communications

This paper analyzes the virtualization of personal interactions. The working hypothesis is that this virtualization is a social use mediated by the ongoing transformations of social relationships. The analyzed data comes from a representative survey of 2800 Internet users in Spain. Different typologies of internet users who virtually communicate with other people have been identified applying structural and discriminative analysis. It is found that the effects of the difference in the development of the virtual relationship are mutually reinforcing, or contrasting, or annulling, given that they operate as a mediator system. The components of the mentioned system and their interdependences are also described. The paper helps to clarify the functioning of the digital divide