Document Type

Honors Thesis

Abstract

Billions of people in today’s world utilize social networking sites, including Facebook. This research explores the relationship between the use of Facebook, a popular social networking site, and the formation of social capital. To assess the use of the site, 46 friends (N=46) completed a survey that looked for demographic and behavioral patterns. Facebook provided an opportunity to recognize how people attracted each other and influenced others with whom they communicated. The graphical network analysis revealed who is influential and who is not, while statistical analysis provided a deeper insight into the personalities of the people involved, when relevant. Results indicated that friends use Facebook approximately 58 minutes throughout the day as part of their daily routine. They use Facebook mainly for social interaction, primarily with their close friends, like old high school friends and current classmates, with whom they had a pre-established relationship offline. Implications of research and practice are also discussed.

Publication Date

5-1-2016

Language

English

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