Tie Strength and SNS Affordances

• In Event: Communication and Technology Top Papers

Abstract

Traditional definitions and measures of tie strength were developed before the internet era. Given the affordances of internet technologies that enable users to initiate and maintain relationships across temporal and spatial boundaries, the concept of tie strength may need to be reconceptualized for today's highly mediated environment. We first review how scholars have previously discussed and analyzed tie strength in social network site settings, based on a systematic review of 70 academic articles published before June 2016 on the topic. Our results reveal that numerous studies operate without a definition of tie strength and most studies still focus on the dichotomy of strong vs. weak ties. Additionally, scholars frequently mention social media affordances but rarely define them or connect them to the tie strength concept. Based on this assessment of the extant research, we suggest theory-based amendments of definitions and operationalizations, which consider the relationship-building capabilities of today’s social media platforms.

Authors

• Emese Domahidi, Leibniz-Institut fuer Wissensmedien

• Nicole Ellison, U of Michigan School of Information

• Sonja Utz, Leibniz-Institut fuer Wissensmedien

• Sabine Trepte, U of Hohenheim