HC8. Online Friendship Formation

Question 1

Social connectedness definitions

Answer 1

the experience of belonging to a social relationship or network

a short-term experience of belonging and relatedness, based on quantitative and qualitative social appraisals and relationship salience

Question 2

Aspects of social connectedness (3)

Answer 2

(1) social capital
(2) sense of community
(3) loneliness

Question 3

Types of social capital (3)

Answer 3

• bridging (weak ties)
• bonding (strong ties)
• maintained (number of friends)

Question 4

Findings social capital & FB intensity (5)

Answer 4

(1) Intensity of Facebook was positively associated with all three forms of social capital
(2) Greater benefits for users experiencing low self-esteem and low life satisfaction
(3) The social capital gains were a direct result of Facebook use
(4) Self-esteem moderated relationship between Facebook usage intensity and bridging social capital: those with lower self-esteem gained more from their use of Facebook in terms of bridging social capital than higher self-esteem participants
(5) Significant association between social media use and bridging (weak ties) social capital

Question 5

Cyberostracism

Answer 5

Feeling of being excluded from a community (no one responds) > less feeling of belonging

Question 6

Social compensation hypothesis

Answer 6

Those who are good in social interaction, will benefit the most of social media usage

Question 7

Social relationship

Answer 7

Refer to the contacts we have in our social capital (that we know from real life/met online) with whom we have a real relationship with

Question 8

Parasocial relationship

Answer 8

Imaginary relationship with a media persona that is mostly one-way

Question 9

Parasocial relationship negative impact

Answer 9

related with poor psychological well-being (loneliness, alienation, life dissatisfaction)

Question 10

Social relationship positive impact

Answer 10

strengthens existing friendships, facilitates offline meetings, lower levels of loneliness, higher levels of social bonding