"They are like personalized mini-Googles": Seeking Information on Facebook Groups

Abstract

Our study reports on everyday life information search (ELIS)

Affordances supporting mothers’ engagement in information-related activities through Facebook groups

“…The popularity of SNSs as information (re)sources might be due to the fact that these sites are largely used to connect with family and friends -groups that are perceived as trusted information sources (Oeldorf-Hirsch et al, 2014). Most importantly, information provided through SNSs is often viewed to be more timely, up to date, relevant and tailored to one's specific information needs, as opposed to information on more static websites or search engines (Mansour and Francke, 2017;Morris et al, 2010aMorris et al, , 2010bMudliar and Raval, 2018;Oeldorf-Hirsch et al, 2014).…”

“…In The group's affordances enable members to have permanent access to information shared in the group this way, members of the group were able to discuss their specific situations or information needs, and gain immediate and tailored information and advice. Immediate access to other people who are able to provide personalised access to information has also been consistently observed as one of the incentives for seeking information through Facebook and Twitter (see, for example, Ellison and Vitak, 2015;Jeon et al, 2016;Kim et al, 2014;Lampe et al, 2012;Morris et al, 2010aMorris et al, , 2010bMudliar and Raval, 2018;Oeldorf-Hirsch et al, 2014;Vitak and Ellison, 2013). However, for the information embedded within a group to be accessible, it is contingent on members' ability to draw from and facilitate access to this knowledge, either by seeking or sharing it with others within the group.…”

“…Current research illustrates the increasing popularity of Facebook groups, especially as useful information resources for various user groups (Lupton et al, 2016; Mudliar and Raval, 2018; Wohn et al, 2011). Parents are one of the most avid user groups on Facebook, with many parents reporting that they are an active member of at least one parent-oriented Facebook group or page (Duggan et al, 2015; Morris, 2014).…”

“…This can be seen, for instance, in the large body of research focusing on SNS affordances for self-presentation, interpersonal communication and relationship maintenance (Kim et al, 2014). But a growing body of literature indicates that SNSs are being used for more instrumental purposes (Aillerie and McNicol, 2018; Kim et al, 2014; Mudliar and Raval, 2018; Sin and Kim, 2013; Smock et al, 2011). Such research highlights the importance of SNSs as essential information resources for many people.…”

“…Previous research reports, for instance, that parents use Facebook groups to support one another and exchange first-hand experiences about pregnancy and early motherhood (Gibson and Hanson, 2013; Lupton, 2017; Morris, 2014), breastfeeding premature newborns (Niela-Vilén et al, 2015) and being a stay-at-home father (Ammari and Schoenebeck, 2016). Additional topics covered include raising children who have special needs (Ammari and Schoenebeck, 2015; Ammari et al, 2014; Roffeei et al, 2015), raising children in a foreign information environment (Mansour, 2020; Mansour and Francke, 2017; Mudliar and Raval, 2018), raising children as LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) parents (Blackwell et al, 2016) and grieving a deceased child (Christensen et al, 2017; Hård af Segerstad and Kasperowski, 2015).…”