Virtual Relationships in Social Media Flashcards
Who suggested the concept of ‘broadcasting self-disclosure’ and what is it
Jourard proposed ‘broadcasting self-disclosure’ to explain the difference between disclosing to a romantic partner and the sharing of personal information in a public situation.
What is the difference between disclosing to a romantic partner and sharing personal information in public
Jourard claimed that self-disclosure in the public domain involves the individual presenting an ‘edited’ version of the self to others. Compared to in private, people may be more selective over content reveaealed in order to compensate for the lack of control over the target audience by exercising control of what the audience has access to
What is the main reason for increased self disclosure online
Most expliantion focus on the effects of anonymity, with individuals irl not usually engaging in self-disclosure until they are confident that disclosure will remain confidential and not be leaked to mutual acquaintances. The consequences of self disclosure face to face are leaks and that the other person might respond negatively. Online anonymity greatly reduces these risks as people can reveal their inner thoughts with much less fear of disapproval or sanction.
What is self-disclosure online similar to
Rubin described it being similar to the “strangers on a train” phenomenon, where individuals are more likely to disclose personal information to people we don’t know and will likely never see again. Strangers also don’t have access to the individuals social circle etc
Who described online self-disclosure as similar to the “strangers on a train” phenomenon
Rubin
What is gating in face-to-face relationships
In real life relationships factors like physical appearance and mannerisms tend to determine who we approach, and who we develop romantic relationships with. We look at features like attractiveness in order to determine whether we want to be in a relationship with that person
How does the absence of gating influence online relationships
The relative anonymity of the internet means that inital barriers to attraction are not there to stop a relationship getting off the ground. The consequence of removing traditional barriers is that a persons true self is more likely to be a real factor in internet relationships than in real life.
What research supports the effects of removed gating
Zhao et al found that online social networks can empower “gated” individuals to present identities they hope to establish but are unable to in face to face situations. The removal of gating also allows people to project a version of themselves that is more attractive than their real identity.
What reasearch supports that people present a better version of themselves online
Yurchisin interviewed 11 online daters and found that these individuals tended to give accounts of both their real and better selves in dating profiles as a way of attracting potential partners. Some admitted to stealing other daters ideas or copy images. However most peoples online identities were still close to a person’s true identity in order to avoid catfishing
Who found that the online world allowed gated people to present themselves
Zhao
Who found that people present a better version of themselves on dating apps
Yurchisin
What is the importance of the internet in forming and maintaining relationships (eval)
Rosenfeld and Thomas did a study of 4000 adults and found individuals with internet access at home were far more likely to be partnered, and less likely to be single. 71.8% of those with internet had a partner, while only 35.9 of those without had a partner. Even controlling for important factors like age those with internet were still twice as likely to have a spouse
Who found those with internet were twice as likely to have a spouse
Rosenfeld and Thomas
Why might virtual relationships be as strong as offline ones (eval)
It is often claimed that online relationships cannot compare to the richness of face to face ones, and that relationships formed online are of lower quality and more temporary. However, Rosenfeld and Thomas found no evidence to support this claim, in their reseach finding no difference in the quality of relationships or the fragility of them
How might online relationships help shy people (eval)
Baker and Oswald argue that shy individuals find particular value in online relationships, and by surverying 206 people on shyness, Facebook usage and quality of friendships, they established that higher shyness and greater use of Facebook was associated with higher perceptions of friendship quality. For those scoring low for shyness, facebook usage did not impact friendship quality
