Dynamics of the young adolescent virtual community revolving around the television programme 3xl.net: Internet, television, interactivity and identity (1st part)

Abstract

This article presents initial conclusions to the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the degree of television influence on contributions by members of the 3xl.net community (a portal with over 130,000 user registrations) in selected forums and chat channels (from more than 100 forums and 10 chat channels accessible in the portal). At a moment of uncertainty regarding the future convergence of the Internet and television, the wide 3xl.net virtual community represents a successful example of parallel broadcasting creating opportunities to study the interrelationships between these two, currently complementary yet different, communications media in a local geographic ambit (Catalan language) and in a clearly defined age range (adolescents). This initial analysis shows us a highly dynamic and active community focussed around the various series (mainly Japanese animation) broadcast on the TV programme, who not only make use of portal content and services, but also interact socially due to common interests, both online (using real identities) and offline. The varied empirical (textual) material collected and the very changing dynamic of 3xl.net users makes a deeper study necessary, one that will allow contrast of hypotheses presented in the conclusion to this article regarding this virtual community's habitual practices, their sense of belonging, television influence on member identity-building, their vital differentiating attitude to other television audiences and their predisposition towards experiences in interactive television.