The Benefits of Facebook “Friends:” Social Capital and College Students’ Use of Online Social Network Sites

doi:10.1111/J.1083-6101.2007.00367.X

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The Benefits of Facebook “Friends:” Social Capital and College Students’ Use of Online Social Network Sites

Journal Article•DOI•

The Benefits of Facebook “Friends:” Social Capital and College Students’ Use of Online Social Network Sites

Nicole B. Ellison¹, Charles Steinfield¹, Cliff Lampe¹•Institutions (1)

Michigan State University¹

01 Jul 2007-Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication (Wiley/Blackwell (10.1111))-Vol. 12, Iss: 4, pp 1143-1168

TL;DR: Facebook usage was found to interact with measures of psychological well-being, suggesting that it might provide greater benefits for users experiencing low self-esteem and low life satisfaction.

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Abstract: This study examines the relationship between use of Facebook, a popular online social network site, and the formation and maintenance of social capital. In addition to assessing bonding and bridging social capital, we explore a dimension of social capital that assesses one’s ability to stay connected with members of a previously inhabited community, which we call maintained social capital. Regression analyses conducted on results from a survey of undergraduate students (N = 286) suggest a strong association between use of Facebook and the three types of social capital, with the strongest relationship being to bridging social capital. In addition, Facebook usage was found to interact with measures of psychological well-being, suggesting that it might provide greater benefits for users experiencing low self-esteem and low life satisfaction.

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Journal Article•DOI•

Social Network Sites: Definition, History, and Scholarship

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danah boyd¹, Nicole B. Ellison²•Institutions (2)

University of California, Berkeley¹, Michigan State University²

01 Oct 2007-Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication

TL;DR: This publication contains reprint articles for which IEEE does not hold copyright and which are likely to be copyrighted.

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Abstract: Social network sites SNSs are increasingly attracting the attention of academic and industry researchers intrigued by their affordances and reach This special theme section of the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication brings together scholarship on these emergent phenomena In this introductory article, we describe features of SNSs and propose a comprehensive definition We then present one perspective on the history of such sites, discussing key changes and developments After briefly summarizing existing scholarship concerning SNSs, we discuss the articles in this special section and conclude with considerations for future research

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14,912 citations

Cites background from "The Benefits of Facebook “Friends:”..."

...Ellison, Steinfield, and Lampe (2007) suggest that Facebook is used to maintain existing offline relationships or solidify offline connections, as opposed to meeting new people....
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...This is one of the chief dimensions that differentiate SNSs from earlier forms of public CMC such as newsgroups (Ellison et al., 2007)....
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Book•

Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other

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Sherry Turkle¹•Institutions (1)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology¹

01 Jan 2011

TL;DR: In Alone Together as mentioned in this paper, MIT technology and society professor Sherry Turkle explores the power of our new tools and toys to dramatically alter our social lives and argues that despite the handwaving of todays self-described prophets of the future, it will be the next generation who will chart the path between isolation and connectivity.

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Abstract: Consider Facebookits human contact, only easier to engage with and easier to avoid. Developing technology promises closeness. Sometimes it delivers, but much of our modern life leaves us less connected with people and more connected to simulations of them. In Alone Together, MIT technology and society professor Sherry Turkle explores the power of our new tools and toys to dramatically alter our social lives. Its a nuanced exploration of what we are looking forand sacrificingin a world of electronic companions and social networking tools, and an argument that, despite the hand-waving of todays self-described prophets of the future, it will be the next generation who will chart the path between isolation and connectivity.

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2,342 citations

Journal Article•DOI•

Is There Social Capital in a Social Network Site?: Facebook Use and College Students' Life Satisfaction, Trust, and Participation

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Sebastián Valenzuela¹, Namsu Park¹, Kerk F. Kee¹•Institutions (1)

University of Texas at Austin¹

01 Jul 2009-Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication

TL;DR: Positive relationships between intensity of Facebook use and students' life satisfaction, social trust, civic engagement, and political participation are found, suggesting that online social networks are not the most effective solution for youth disengagement from civic duty and democracy.

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Abstract: This study examines if Facebook, one of the most popular social network sites among college students in the U.S., is related to attitudes and behaviors that enhance individuals' social capital. Using data from a random web survey of college students across Texas (n = 2,603), we find positive relationships between intensity of Facebook use and students' life satisfaction, social trust, civic engagement, and political participation. While these findings should ease the concerns of those who fear that Facebook has mostly negative effects on young adults, the positive and significant associations between Facebook variables and social capital were small, suggesting that online social networks are not the most effective solution for youth disengagement from civic duty and democracy.

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2,070 citations

Cites background or methods from "The Benefits of Facebook “Friends:”..."

...By using SNSs, individuals seek to maintain and increase their social networks (Ellison et al., 2007; Joinson, 2008)....
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...A more complete measure of intensity of Facebook use was developed by Ellison, Steinfield, and Lampe (2007), who created a scale to gauge user engagement in Facebook activities based on number of ‘‘friends,’’ amount of time spent on the network on a typical day, and level of agreement with several…...
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...For instance, college students with lower levels of life satisfaction could seek to participate in online networks to increase their personal well-being (Ellison et al., 2007)....
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...Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication...
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...This proposition was empirically tested by Ellison, Steinfield, and Lampe (2007) using survey data from a small sample of undergraduate students in the U.S....
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Journal Article•DOI•

A 61-million-person experiment in social influence and political mobilization

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Robert M. Bond¹, Christopher J. Fariss¹, Jason J. Jones¹, Adam D. I. Kramer², Cameron Marlow², Jaime E. Settle¹, James H. Fowler¹ - Show less +3 more•Institutions (2)

University of California, San Diego¹, Facebook²

13 Sep 2012-Nature

TL;DR: Results from a randomized controlled trial of political mobilization messages delivered to 61 million Facebook users during the 2010 US congressional elections show that the messages directly influenced political self-expression, information seeking and real-world voting behaviour of millions of people.

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Abstract: Online social networks are everywhere. They must be influencing the way society is developing, but hard evidence is scarce. For instance, the relative effectiveness of online friendships and face-to-face friendships as drivers of social change is not known. In what may be the largest experiment ever conducted with human subjects, James Fowler and colleagues randomly assigned messages to 61 million Facebook users on Election Day in the United States in 2010, and tracked their behaviour both online and offline, using publicly available records. The results show that the messages influenced the political communication, information-seeking and voting behaviour of millions of people. Social messages had more impact than informational messages and 'weak ties' were much less likely than 'strong ties' to spread behaviour via the social network. Thus online mobilization works primarily through strong-tie networks that may exist offline but have an online representation.

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2,003 citations

Journal Article•DOI•

College students' social networking experiences on Facebook

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Tiffany A. Pempek¹, Yevdokiya Yermolayeva¹, Sandra L. Calvert¹•Institutions (1)

Georgetown University¹

01 May 2009-Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology

TL;DR: For instance, this article found that 92 undergraduates completed a diary-like measure each day for a week, reporting daily time use and responding to an activities checklist to assess their use of the popular social networking site, Facebook.

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1,997 citations

Cites background or result from "The Benefits of Facebook “Friends:”..."

...A recent survey of college students in the U.S. showed that social networking sites are used for social interaction with offline acquaintances in order to maintain friendships rather than to make new friends (Ellison et al., 2007)....
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...Only about 9% of our young adult sample used Facebook to make new friends, a finding consistent with those reported by Ellison et al. (2007) for college students, but which differs from findings with teens, about half of whom use social networking sites to make new friends (Lenhart &Madden, 2007)....
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...Previous studies have found that more than 90% of college students use Facebook (Ellison et al., 2007; Wiley & Sisson, 2006)....
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...All rights reserved....
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References

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Journal Article•DOI•

Sharing or Piracy? An Exploration of Downloading Behavior

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Robert LaRose¹, Ying Ju Lai¹, Ryan Lange¹, Bradford Rodney Love¹, Yuehua Wu¹ - Show less +1 more•Institutions (1)

Michigan State University¹

01 Nov 2005-Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication

TL;DR: A new model of media attendance is applied and extends to examine factors that determine current levels of sharing files through peer-to-peer networks among college students, and to predict downloaders’ intentions to discontinue the behavior in the future.

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Abstract: This exploratory study applies and extends a new model of media attendance to examine factors that determine current levels of sharing files through peer-to-peer networks among college students, and to predict downloaders’ intentions to discontinue the behavior in the future. In a multiple regression analysis, downloading activity was found to be positively related to deficient self-regulation and the expected social outcomes of downloading behavior. Downloading activity was lessened by dissatisfaction with poor quality downloads. Those who are willing to discontinue downloading are motivated by fear of punishment, but skilled and habitual downloaders were unlikely to discontinue. Normative beliefs also affected downloading. The perception that downloading was morally unacceptable was positively related to intentions to discontinue downloading, while beliefs that the behavior was morally acceptable were positively related to current downloading activity.

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131 citations

Journal Article•DOI•

Place-Based and IT Mediated "Community"

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Keith N. Hampton

01 Jan 2002-Planning Theory & Practice

TL;DR: In this article, a place-based and IT-mediated "community" is discussed. But the focus is on the place and not on the community itself, as in this paper.

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Abstract: (2002). Place-based and IT Mediated ‘Community”. Planning Theory & Practice: Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 228-231.

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84 citations

"The Benefits of Facebook “Friends:”..." refers methods in this paper

...In this sense, the original incarnation of Facebook was similar to the wired Toronto neighborhood studied by Hampton and Wellman (e.g., Hampton, 2002; Hampton & Wellman, 2003), who suggest that information technology may enhance place-based community and facilitate the generation of social…...
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