Digitally networked action : developing self-organisation in ‘weak-tie’ residential communities through a ‘Facebook Group’.

The social network site (SNS) Facebook is a ubiquitous and powerful communication platform particularly popular among young adults. Within residential developments there are a number of issues common for many inhabitants found through building performance evaluation. This paper explores the use of Facebook in relation to those issues in two cases of Facebook Group usage within residential communities. Data was collected through longitudinal digital and physical visits to the residential communities and to the Facebook Group sites. Findings are presented under three levels: Home learning, site/neighbourhood and self-organising initiatives. We propose that weak-tie residential communities can develop collective efficacy and work together for the good of the residential development through communicating on a Facebook Group and this then moves over into the physical environment facilitating collective action. There is a clear overlap between social media narrative and the physical experience of daily life.