Facebook in Context: Social Capital and Mood Across Time and Space

• In Event: Social Capital and Social Media

Abstract

Extant research has demonstrated both positive and negative relationships with Facebook activity, providing a need for more nuanced and integrative approaches. In the current study, we combine perspectives on bridging social capital and mood in a two-week study of undergraduates (N=154). We compare these outcomes in terms of time (minutes vs. weeks) and location (being home vs. away from home). Findings showed that certain logged Facebook activities (i.e., new friendships, event RSVPs) were strongly associated with baseline bridging capital, whereas tagged photos predicted change in social capital over two weeks. Conversely, average mood over the same period was not associated with logged Facebook use. In addition to “longer-term” outcomes, we found evidence for short-term effects of active Facebook use, including more positive mood and higher arousal when at home. Altogether, the study develops a context-dependent perspective of Facebook that incorporates attention to the temporal and spatial dimensions of use.

Authors

• Joseph Bayer, U of Michigan

• Nicole Ellison, School of Information

• Sarita Yardi Schoenebeck, U of Michigan

• Erin Brady, U of Rochester

• Emily Falk, University of Pennsylvania