Older Adolescents' Motivations for Social Network Site Use: The Influence of Gender, Group Identity, and Collective Self-Esteem

Abstract

This study assessed motives for social network site (SNS) use, group belonging, collective self-esteem, and gender effects among older adolescents. Communication with peer group members was the most important motivation for SNS use. Participants high in positive collective self-esteem were strongly motivated to communicate with peer group via SNS. Females were more likely to report high positive collective self-esteem, greater overall use, and SNS use to communicate with peers. Females also posted higher means for group-in-self, passing time, and entertainment. Negative collective self-esteem correlated with social compensation, suggesting that those who felt negatively about their social group used SNS as an alternative to communicating with other group members. Males were more likely than females to report negative collective self-esteem and SNS use for social compensation and social identity gratifications.

Uses and Gratifications of digital photo sharing on Facebook

“…However, this probable justification needs to be confirmed, as it is somewhat contrary to earlier research that points to higher habitual SNS gratifications and usage among females (Barker, 2009;Hargittai, 2007;Madden et al, 2013). This contradiction can be justified by the fact that the general and features-specific Facebook gratifications vary among users (Joinson, 2008;Krause et al, 2014;Smock et al, 2011).…”

“…Investigating gender differences with regard to SNS has also been actively researched (Barker, 2009;Hargittai, 2007;Kimbrough, Guadagno, Muscanell, & Dill, 2013;McAndrew & Jeong, 2012;Muscanell & Guadagno, 2012;Raacke & Bonds-Raacke, 2008).…”

Internet addiction in students: Prevalence and risk factors

“…People with large offline social networks, who are more extroverted, and who have higher self-esteem, use online networks for social enhancement, supporting the principle of 'the rich get richer'. On the other hand, people with only a limited number of real life contacts compensate for their introversion, low self-esteem, and low lifesatisfaction by using SNSs for online popularity, thus supporting the social compensation hypothesis of 'the poor get richer' (Barker, 2009;Ellison, Steinfield, & Lampe, 2007;Mehdizadeh, 2010).…”

The effect of social network sites on adolescents' social and academic development: Current theories and controversies

“…Youth actively decide to use SNS, versus other tools, for particular communicative reasons such as keeping in touch with friends (Agosto & Abbas, 2010). Early studies in the field also imply that characteristics such as shyness, self-esteem, and narcissism are related to behavior in SNS (Barker, 2009;Buffardi & Campbell, 2008;Zywica & Danowski, 2008). Survey data find that female and male youth might use SNS in different ways (Lenhart, Madden, Macgill, & Smith, 2007).…”