Content, Community

There are two types of Internet users - information processors or social beings.

The first type of users is acting like information processors. These people are passive surfers waiting for publishers to feed them with information. They have no interest in interacting with other users other than gaining knowledge. For this type of users, the content is the most important. They are often willing to pay for the content.

Bronfman (2000)
“What would the Internet be without content? It would be a valueless collection of silent machines with gray screens. It would be electronic equivalent of a marine desert – lovely elements, nice colors, no life. It would be nothing”

Internet users as social beings are the other type of users. These people want to relate to other users in the Internet. They usually have high level of self-disclosures.

The development of portals is a direct response to the needs of these users. They can chat, join a common interest group, interact with others in a forum etc. They are often willing to pay to be part of the community even though there is no meaningful content. Psychology is the key to successful gathering of these users.