The usage of social networks by university students (A survey of Facebook use patterns among young people)
Bd.6,Nr.1(2015)
Online social networks (Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Twitter, …) have become truly significant new phenomena in human communication and interaction patterns and may have a profound impact in the way people communicate and connect with each other.
Millions of contemporary young adults use social networking sites. Teenagers are among the most prolific users of social network sites (SNS). Emerging studies find that youth spend a considerable amount of time in their daily life interacting through social media. Subsequently, questions and controversies emerge about the effects SNS have on adolescent development. However, little is known about how much, why, and how they use these sites. In this study, 561 university students from different nationalities completed a survey that helps clarify these questions that surround youth participation in these online communities. Our findings suggest that social networks are the modus operandi of the new generation and that Facebook is mostly used to keep up to date. In addition, a strong connection was found between Facebook use and the addiction to maintaining social capital.
Social networks; Facebook; university students; online survey; young adults
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Copyright (c) 2015 Diana Santos, Martin Čuta