The Supportive Behaviors of Older SNS Users Fred Stutzman, Valeda Stull, Cheryl Thompson School of Information and Library Science UNC-Chapel Hill
The Supportive Behaviors of Older Social Network Site Users
Jan 27, 2015
Fred Stutzman, Valeda Stull, Cheryl Thompson
This paper outlines a new multi-wave study of older adult users of social network sites. The goal of the study is to develop a grounded understanding of the phenomenon of older user social network site adoption, to identify and investigate ways in which the social network site facilitates access to supportive resources, and to evaluate the outcomes of access to supportive resources in social network sites. The paper draws on a preliminary analysis of 15 semi- structured interviews with older, late-adopting social network site users to present emergent themes. Reconnection is identified as a salient use motivator among older users of social network sites. We then explore the social network sites as a location of social support for older users; Emotional and informational support are readily provisioned on social network sites, whereas instrumental support is not commonly requested or provisioned. The role of cross- contextual disclosure and technological alternatives are briefly explored as potential explanatory variables.
This paper outlines a new multi-wave study of older adult users of social network sites. The goal of the study is to develop a grounded understanding of the phenomenon of older user social network site adoption, to identify and investigate ways in which the social network site facilitates access to supportive resources, and to evaluate the outcomes of access to supportive resources in social network sites. The paper draws on a preliminary analysis of 15 semi- structured interviews with older, late-adopting social network site users to present emergent themes. Reconnection is identified as a salient use motivator among older users of social network sites. We then explore the social network sites as a location of social support for older users; Emotional and informational support are readily provisioned on social network sites, whereas instrumental support is not commonly requested or provisioned. The role of cross- contextual disclosure and technological alternatives are briefly explored as potential explanatory variables.
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The Supportive Behaviors of Older SNS Users
Fred Stutzman, Valeda Stull, Cheryl ThompsonSchool of Information and Library Science
UNC-Chapel Hill
(InsideFacebook.com, 2009)
(Lenhart, 2009)
Fred Stutzman, [email protected]
Why Older Users?
• Diversification of audience, potential different uses
• Reveal new practices, points for comparison
• Social effects of use in differing cohorts
• Design to address specific needs
Fred Stutzman, [email protected]
Participants
• 15 participants, two in 40’s, six in 50’s, seven in 60’s, nine females and six males
• Semi-structured interviews, in-person and by phone
• TOLA (Transitional, Older, Late Adopting Users)
Fred Stutzman, [email protected]
Framework
• Adoption, Experience
• Audience, Connections, Motivation
• Social Support
• Privacy
Fred Stutzman, [email protected]
Adoption• Reconnection drives adoption and use
• Real names the norm, searching important
• Reconstruction of the life story
“[In Facebook] I will click on one of my friends and I will see two other people that I have not heard from in years and be able to get in touch with them and I think it’s a great thing for that.”
Fred Stutzman, [email protected]
Connections
• Networks are close; small in size
• Attention focused on “important” others
• Reconnections, old crushes
• Observing the extended family
• Attention shifts; the “dance” of reconnection
Fred Stutzman, [email protected]
Management • Networks are managed with respect to
utility and privacy
• Common to not accept requests, de-friend, block, and delete items
“Recently I was friended by the ex-husband of one of my friends and it was a really messy divorce and she is also on Facebook, so I didn’t really know what to do, so my kids said to just ignore the request.”
Fred Stutzman, [email protected]
Contexts
• Family, friends, reconnections and co-workers main cited contexts
• The “time gap” as unique boundary
• Lack of common ground
• Shifting norms and identities
• Bridging “different lives”
Fred Stutzman, [email protected]
Support
• Emotional support, instrumental support, informational support (Braithwaite et al., 1999; Cohen & Gottlieb, 2000)
• Provisioning of support
• Asking for support
Fred Stutzman, [email protected]
Support• SNS is a supportive place
• Emotional and informational support provisioned most commonly
“One of my nieces’ parents has been rather ill, and people have been just giving her messages of support. She’s someone who is regularly on Facebook and talking about her mother’s condition and the surgeries she’s had, and people were voicing support for how she was doing.”
Fred Stutzman, [email protected]
Asking for support?
• SNS is not a place where the sample goes for support
• Privacy; Multiple groups; Compromising disclosures
• Established modes for connection with supportive others
Fred Stutzman, [email protected]
Reciprocity• SNS is full of supportive givers; fewer
“askers”
• Users are willing to mobilize
“In other words posting on the Wall where all of my friends can see it – everyone on my friends list can see it – I would not do that. And that is because of this mix of people, different kinds of relationships.”
Fred Stutzman, [email protected]
Privacy
• SNS are not “private” places
• Context violations main critical incidents
• Privacy settings are complicated
• High degree of profile management
• Support for different friending practice
Fred Stutzman, [email protected]
TOLA Study
• Method notes: Response rates
• Next steps: Survey
• Your feedback on solicitation techniques and incentives
• Stage 3: User study, content analysis?
Fred Stutzman, [email protected]
Thank you!
Fred Stutzman: [email protected] @fstutzmanhttp://fredstutzman.com
Amanda Lenhart Heather Attig
Sarita Yardi Fred Stutzman
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