Abstract
This study investigates the processes that individuals go through to form online relationships that develop into an online community. I look at bloggers and the experiences that led to the creation of an online community called the “Blogger Family.” I draw on my knowledge of the blogosphere and my own inclusion into the Blogger Family. Interaction between the bloggers was accomplished through comments on blog posts and linking to other blogs. The computer “shield” provided the bloggers with a sense of extroversion that helped them feel comfortable interacting online. Facebook was found to play a significant part in providing one place for the bloggers to communicate. The bloggers built trust through constant communication. Once sufficient trust was built, the bloggers took their online relationships offline and into the “real world” through the mail. This provided tangible items for the bloggers to identify their online relationships with. Through a period of four to five years, the bloggers built online relationships where they became comfortable enough with each other to refer to the online community as a family that provided support and was a safe place for the bloggers to get advice and share problems.