Who Am I on Facebook? Usage and Motivation Through User Eyes

Abstract

This article discusses different modes of using Facebook and the motivation for its users. The analysis aims to clarify how and why users might resort to one or more usage modes when joining this social network and emphasizes the relationship between interactions mediated by this social network and user identity. For this we conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 young Facebook users-five males and five females-all residing in Brasília-DF, Brazil. The results obtained were compared with those found in previous research. We used theoretical derived data from social psychology and socio-cultural anthropology for the data analysis and conducted an accurate literature review. The conclusion goes beyond the distinction between motivation and usage and expresses a critical analysis of Facebook usage purposes thus indicating widespread use that can extend to other specifics depending on the interests of the participants. Furthermore, there is motivation behind Facebook which is not yet mentioned in existing research which attracts enthusiasts to Facebook and is directly related to the issue of identity in the contemporary world.