The Value of These So Called ‘Friends’: Resource Mobilization on Social Network Sites

• In Event: The Changing Nature of Relationships in Social Network(ing) Sites

Abstract

This study investigated the instrumental value of facebook friends. Primary participants (n = 49) solicited a sample of their facebook friends (secondary participants, n = 588) to complete a task which directly benefited primary participants. Approximately 16% of secondary participants responded to the request. 24% of strong ties and only about 8.5% of weak ties responded. Results suggest that limited social capital accrues to facebook users beyond that of their traditional social support network.

Authors

• Dongjin Lim, State University of New York, Buffalo

• Kyounghee Kwon, State University of New York, Buffalo

• Derek Lackaff, State University of New York, Buffalo

• Andrea Tripoli, University at Buffalo

• Michael A. Stefanone, University at Buffalo