A growing body of research has examined the potential effects of the Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) on Social Networking Site (SNS) use and Problematic SNS use (PSNSU). The aim of the current ...meta-analysis is to summarize findings on the relationship between FoMO levels and (i) SNS use and (ii) PSNSU. Furthermore, we meta-analyzed results on the associations between FoMO and some individual characteristics. The sample included 33 independent samples with a total of 21,473 participants. The results of the random-effects meta-analysis show a positive correlation between FoMO and SNS use and between FoMO and PSNSU, with effect sizes indicating robust associations. Age, sex, and geographic area of the samples did not moderate the associations. FoMO was positively correlated with depression, anxiety, and neuroticism and negatively correlated with consciousness. These results give robustness to the construct validity of FoMO itself, as this concept was introduced to explain why some people might be especially attracted to social media. Moreover, concerns that others might be having rewarding experiences that one is absent from seem to be a trigger for a compulsive use of social platforms, driven by the need to get in touch with others, or as tool to develop social competence.
•A meta-analysis on the relationship between FoMO levels and SNS use and problematic SNS use (PSNSU) was conducted.•The effect sizes indicate robust associations between FoMO and both SNS use and PSNUS.•Age, sex, and geographic area did not moderate the associations.•FoMO should be employed as a relevant dimension in the evaluation and treatment of PSNUS.
This paper examines the role of time orientation in predicting users' participation patterns in social networking sites (SNS). A series of structural paths leading from time orientation to users' ...intention to interact and finally to actual engagement with SNS is compared across three countries: Austria, China and Uruguay. After assuring measurement invariance for the constructs of the study, differences in structural paths across counties are assessed. Findings show that future orientation has a positive effect on a user's intentions to actively generate content and passively monitor SNS. These relationships are invariant across countries. Present orientation positively influences intention to actively interact in Austria and Uruguay. Finally, the relationship between users' active intention and engagement is strongest for Austria, scoring high on the individualism dimension, as compared to China and Uruguay.
Photo sharing on various social networking sites (SNSs) has become an important part of the online social experience. SNS users utilize various types of pictures, particularly selfies (pictures one ...takes of oneself), to display their personalities, lifestyles, and preferences. In this study, we identified the motivations that drive selfie-posting behavior and examined the roles of the selfie-posting motivations and narcissism in predicting selfie-posting behavior. Our findings first revealed four motivations for posting selfies on SNSs: (1) attention seeking, (2) communication, (3) archiving, and (4) entertainment. Further, results showed that the motivations of attention seeking, communication, and archiving as well as narcissism significantly predicted selfie-posting intention while narcissism was the only significant predictor of selfie-posting frequency. In light of these findings, areas for future research are discussed.
•Four motivations for posting selfies on social networking sites were identified.•The motivations are attention seeking, communication, archiving, and entertainment.•Attention seeking, communication, and archiving predict selfie-posting intention.•Narcissism predicts both frequency and intention of selfie-posting.
•Significant multiple linear regressions are conducted based on 164 Facebook posts.•Posts with images and videos are more prone to be liked.•Posts with images published during business hours are more ...prone to be commented.•The use of links in a post negatively influences the number of comments.•Images help to increase brand post popularity. Videos are only relevant for likes.
Social media is achieving an increasing importance as a channel for gathering information about products and services. Brands are developing its presence in social networking sites to meet brand awareness, engagement and word of mouth. In this context, the analysis of the factors that are conditioning consumer interaction with branded content becomes a matter of interest. This paper aims to shed light on those factors that are expected to impact on Facebook branded post popularity. A conceptual model is developed to reflect the influence of the content's richness and time frame on the number of comments and likes. An empirical analysis using multiple linear regressions is conducted based on 164 Facebook posts gathered from the fan pages of 5 Spanish travel agencies. Results suggest that the richness of the content (inclusions of images and videos) raises the impact of the post in terms of likes. On the other hand, using images and a proper publication time are significantly influencing the number of comments, whereas the use of links may decrease this metric.
This study empirically contributes to the existing literature on the management of marketing strategies for consumer engagement in social networking sites.
Body-positive content on social media aims to challenge mainstream beauty ideals and encourage acceptance and appreciation of all body types. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of ...viewing body-positive Instagram posts on young women’s mood and body image. Participants were 195 young women (18–30 years old) who were randomly allocated to view either body-positive, thin-ideal, or appearance-neutral Instagram posts. Results showed that brief exposure to body positive posts was associated with improvements in young women’s positive mood, body satisfaction and body appreciation, relative to thin-ideal and appearance-neutral posts. In addition, both thin-ideal and body-positive posts were associated with increased self-objectification relative to appearance-neutral posts. Finally, participants showed favourable attitudes towards the body positive accounts with the majority being willing to follow them in the future. It was concluded that body-positive content may offer a fruitful avenue for improving young women’s body image, although further research is necessary to fully understand the effects on self-objectification.
•The Dark Triad and self-objectification predict men’s social networking site use.•Trait self-objectification and narcissism predicted time spent on SNSs.•Narcissism and psychopathy predicted the ...number of selfies posted on SNSs.•Narcissism and trait self-objectification predicted editing photos posted on SNSs.
An online survey of a nationally representative sample of U.S. men aged 18–40 assessed trait predictors of social networking site use as well as two forms of visual self-presentation: editing one’s image in photographs posted on social networking sites (SNSs) and posting “selfies,” or pictures users take of themselves. We examined the Dark Triad (i.e., narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy) and trait self-objectification as predictors. Self-objectification and narcissism predicted time spent on SNSs. Narcissism and psychopathy predicted the number of selfies posted, whereas narcissism and self-objectification predicted editing photographs of oneself posted on SNSs. We discuss selective self-presentation processes on social media and how these traits may influence interpersonal relationship development in computer-mediated communication.
This paper introduces a novel theoretical lens of pseudo-community trust and studies its effect on member disclosure on social networking sites (SNSs). We collect survey data from 229 SNS users and ...validate the research model using the structural equation modeling method. Findings indicate the effect of pseudo-community trust in promoting member self-disclosure and reveal the contingency of its effect. Moreover, our findings report important antecedents to pseudo-community trust and evidence their indirect effects on member self-disclosure through pseudo-community as a mediator. This research contributes to the trust literature and self-disclosure literature on SNSs.
•To elicit perceived personalization it is best to use interests, location or age.•Gender, life-events or friend referrals elicit less perceived personalization.•Results remain stable across product ...perceptions.•Results remain stable across socio-demographic characteristics.
On social networking sites, consumers disclose information about themselves which advertisers use to personalize advertisements. The underlying assumption is that personalized advertisements are more persuasive. However, it is not clear to what extent actual personalization elements (as intended by advertisers) determine consumers’ perceptions of the extent to which an ad is personalized, and it is the latter that drives responses. The current study investigates the relative weight of different actual personalization elements (age, gender, location, life events, interests, and friend referrals) in Facebook ads in eliciting perceived advertising personalization. We conduct conjoint analyses for six products (a bank, a smartphone, tableware, furniture, a restaurant, a fashion retailer) with 595 consumers from the United States. The findings show that the most important elements in eliciting perceived personalization are (in order of importance) a person’s interests, location, and age. This result remains stable across different product perceptions (product category involvement, product qualities, and buying motivations) and across different socio-demographic characteristics (gender, age, and education). In sum, to evoke the perception of personalization, advertisers should primarily target consumers based on their interests.
Drawing on social identity theory and self-verification theory, this study seeks to delineate the relationship between global identity and global social networking sites usage. Despite the ...significance of users’ motivation in predicting SNS usage, there has been insufficient focus on other potential drivers that are relevant in today’s global and competitive marketplace. This study aims to fill this gap by providing a comprehensive framework of the role of global identity in shaping SNS behavior through users’ motivation. Empirical evidence from 696 global SNS users in Austria, Indonesia and Thailand are analyzed in order to test the underlying mechanism of the suggested relationship. In addition, findings reveal differences across countries that are indicators of the existence of some country-specific patterns. Finally, this research extends the current literature on digital and international marketing and provides SNS managers with nuanced insights into marketing strategies they should follow in different country contexts.
“Selfies” are amateur photographs people take of themselves, usually with a smartphone. Sharing selfies on social media has become a popular activity, prompting questions about its psychological ...meaning and dispositionally-relevant motives. This study was performed to examine the association between narcissism, a personality trait characterized by inflated self-views and attempts to seek attention and admiration from others, and frequency of posting selfies on social networking sites. In addition, the association between posting selfies and three facets of narcissism (i.e., Leadership/Authority, Grandiose Exhibitionism, Entitlement/Exploitativeness) was explored. These questions were addressed in a nationally representative sample of 1204 men and women who completed an online survey. Results showed that narcissism, as well as the Leadership/Authority and Grandiose Exhibitionism facets, but not Entitlement/Exploitativeness, exhibited positive and significant associations with selfie-posting frequency. Age did not moderate the predictive effects of narcissism or any of its three dimensions, indicating that the relationship between narcissism, its facets, and posting selfies is not age dependent. However, the more adaptive Leadership/Authority facet emerged as a stronger predictor of selfie posting among women than men, whereas the maladaptive Entitlement/Exploitativeness facet predicted selfie posting among men, but not women. Interpretations and implications of these findings are discussed.
•The association between narcissism, its facets, and selfie posting was studied.•Three-factor structure of Narcissistic Personality Inventory was confirmed.•Total narcissism and two of its three facets predicted selfie-posting frequency.•Leadership/Authority was a stronger predictor of selfie posting for women than men.•Entitlement/Exploitativeness predicted selfie posting for men, but not women.
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