Facebook, Friends and Faith -Trusting online friends Anusuah.R, Research Scholar, Department of Communication. Dr.G.Balasubramania Raja, Associate Professor, Department of Communication, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University
Mediated Communication CMC Communication Impression creation Develop and maintain relationships Adapting to the restrictions of the medium. Hyperpersonal
Relationships in CMC Unacquainted individuals Anonymity Consequential strangers social anxiety
Uncertainty reduction theory Social penetration Theory Reduce uncertainty , develop a relationship Non-intimate relationships to intimate, disclosing personal information passive, active and interactive reward/ cost assessment gain knowledge, create understanding sharing parts of oneself to or with another
URT & SPT Deal with the relationship between individuals Professional and/or social relationships Systematic practice to explore the other individual
Trust Self disclosure relationship development Intimacy Layers of Self
Research question RQ1: Does gender plays a major role in accepting/sending friend requests among Facebook users. RQ2: Are there any gender differences in initiating conversation with online friends. RQ3: what are the factors play a role in trusting an online friend
Participants and Procedure Focus group Discussion 36- Participants Three groups Online Friends Facebook usage M= 3.41 hours
Facebook intensity Statements Facebook is part of my everyday activity I am proud to tell people I'm on Facebook Facebook has become part of my daily routine I feel out of touch when I haven't logged onto Facebook for a while I feel I am part of the Facebook community I would be sorry if Facebook shut down I consider Facebook as a significant part of my life I feel Facebook as an appropriate place to display information
Display Preference Posts by Me Photos and Videos of Me Personal Information- Education and Work Posts by Friends (in my Timeline) Comments on My Posts Friends List Birthday Religious and Political Views Family and Relationship
Discussed themes Adding/requesting complete stranger in their friends list. Initiating the conversation How do they trust their online friends.
Results and discussions Adding/requesting - friends list. Profile pictures- impression creation ASL Mutual Friends
Knowing a stranger Information from profile bio, pictures, mutual friends. Reducing Uncertainty- Passive methods Onion Analogy
Initiating conversation Men Women Opposite gender Elder women, same age group Same age group Emotional Intellectual Conversation lasts 2-3 mins Conversation lasts more than 10 mins Conversing more than 3 times in a day Not very often (hardly one time in a day) Few weeks (35- 60 days) Few days (7- 10 days)
Trust in online relationships Rewards and Costs Psychological satisfaction Enabling other forms of Communication Exchanging Mobile numbers Email ID Inviting for F2F meeting Gender difference Collectivism
Further Research Self Disclosure Online to Face-to-Face relationships