Beyond the Power of Networks: Differentiating Network Structure and Social Media for Social Support

• In Event: 464 - Section on Communication and Information Technologies Paper Session. Open Topic on Communication, Media, and/or Information Technologies

Abstract

Existing research suggests that social media use is associated with better access to various social resources. However, in predicting access to these resources, there has been a failure to differentiate the benefits of social media use from the benefits of personal network characteristics. It has been impossible to distinguish the affordances of social media from the underlying advantage of maintaining a favorable social network. Based on data from a large, national survey, we compare the relationship between social network structure and various activities on Facebook for total support, companionship, emotional support, and tangible aid. In addition to a positive association between most network characteristics and support, we find that Facebook status updates are independently associated with many dimensions of perceived support. We argue that the affordance of status updates for perceived support is an outcome of the ‘pervasive awareness’ provided by social media.

Authors

• Weixu Lu, State University of New Jersey-Rutgers

• Keith N. Hampton, State University of New Jersey-Rutgers