How has the Internet reshaped society? This research offers a comprehensive overview of the Internet's social implications, challenging both utopian and dystopian viewpoints. Examining five key domains—inequality, community, political participation, organizations, and cultural participation—the study reveals that the Internet tends to **complement**, rather than replace, existing patterns of behavior. Instead of creating a completely new social order, the Internet adapts to pre-existing societal structures. While it facilitates certain innovations, it often reinforces existing trends. The paper emphasizes that the ultimate social implications of the Internet depend heavily on economic, legal, and policy decisions. Sociologists are urged to integrate individual user behavior research with broader institutional and political-economic analyses. By considering these macroscopic factors, a more nuanced understanding of the Internet's impact on society can be achieved. This paper provides a crucial foundation for further sociological inquiry into the evolving role of the Internet and its impact on crucial aspects of **society**, **communication**, and **social sciences**.
Published in the Annual Review of Sociology, this paper is directly relevant to the journal's focus on providing comprehensive reviews of significant sociological topics. The analysis of the Internet's social implications aligns perfectly with the journal's aim to synthesize research and offer critical assessments of key trends within the field of sociology. This article serves as a valuable resource for sociologists seeking to understand the broad societal impact of technology.