More research

From the same book as before (A Networked Self) I found some more information on online addiction and more facebook facts.

Online use and addiction:

- 75% of young adults online (16-24) have an online profile.

- Media habit (definition) A form of automaticity in media consumption that develops as people repeat media consumption behaviour in stable circumstances.

- 6% of US adults said a relationship suffered because of their internet use.

- Internet usage disorder is now classed as a category of mental-illness.

- 2 problematic media habits:

Problematic Internet Use: As compensation for social incompetence in the offline world. Dimensions are- mood alteration, social benefits, negative outcomes, compulsivity, excessive time, preoccupation and interpersonal control. Social benefits are an early positive but then people start missing real life events, so the cycle continues (go online for more social interaction). This accounts for 10% of cases.

Socio-cognitive model of unrelated media use: Describes how humans exercise or lose control of media behaviour. Their self- regulatory behaviour becomes impaired and self-control over media is diminished. Other symptoms lack of awareness and attention.

- Evidence to say that social networking is not for making new friends but to articulate and reflect offline relationships. 91% of teens in the US do it to connect with current friends.

Facebook:

- Female respondents, on average, visited facebook more often than males but once on the site, there was no difference between genders on how much time they spent on.

- From an experiment, females are more intense users of social networking sites.

- Students that do not live with their parents are more intensely engaged with social networking sites.

- College students consciously upload and tag displayed photographs, thus selecting certain subjects and events to emphasize.

- People are able to post that information which presents a desired image.

- Social networking sites are about establishing, presenting and negotiating identity, through the tastes and interests expressed, through applications we add and through pictures of us and friends. These identity presentations are supported by comments from other users.

- Most users do post pictures of themselves and friends, with females doing this more than males.

- Facebook in 2009 reported more than 1 billion photos were uploaded every month.

- “Recording an event has become part of that event- and perhaps the most important part.” Most subjects pose in front of the camera, looking down the lens and are highly aware of the camera. We therefore consciously and unconsciously transform ourselves before the camera.