Barry Wellman is a sociologist who studies how social relations have shifted from group-centered interactions to individual networks, with close social connections no longer requiring physical proximity. He notes that neighborhoods, churches, and other local groups that once provided social support have diminished in importance, while new technologies now allow people to maintain close social ties from a distance through things like video calls to check in on pets at boarding facilities. Wellman's key point is that social closeness no longer necessitates physical closeness.

1. Welcome to Summer T101 Day 7

2. Barry Wellman – Sociologist of Social Networks University of Toronto He studies the shift from group-centered relations to networked individualism.

3. What do we mean by social network?

4. neighborhood church bowling league

9. Gone are the days of the family business

11. Doggie hotels offer skype

18. Barry Wellman’s take home point: Social closeness does not mean physical closeness.