Abstract
Social networking sites (SNS), such as Facebook, attract millions of users worldwide by offering highly interactive social communications. Although this has many advantages, previous research has suggested there are also drawbacks (e.g., stalking, addiction, invasion of privacy). The question, therefore, arises as to whether Facebook – currently the largest social network – makes us more satisfied with our lives. In two independent samples (Study 1: N = 2,272; Study 2: N = 1,459), Facebook users were neither more satisfied with their lives compared to non-Facebook users, nor were Facebook users with more online friends more satisfied compared to those with fewer online friends. On the contrary, Facebook usage duration was negatively associated with life satisfaction, even after controlling for age and sex differences (Study 1: r = −0.11, Study 2: r = −0.18). Although in general positive effects would have been expected because Facebook should enhance possibilities for social communication and connection, either null-finding or negative associations were found. Results are discussed in light of possible addiction-supporting features of Facebook, which are reflected in Facebook usage patterns (e.g., higher mean duration of Facebook usage per week, larger number of logins to Facebook).
Highlights
IntroductionThe Internet was generally characterized by non-synchronous and unidirectional communication (e.g., reading web pages or sending emails)
In its early years, the Internet was generally characterized by non-synchronous and unidirectional communication
The focus was on Facebook users, and on nonFacebook users who were used as a reference group
Summary
The Internet was generally characterized by non-synchronous and unidirectional communication (e.g., reading web pages or sending emails). By contrast, online communication is highly multidirectional and synchronous. We can communicate in real-time with multiple people across the globe at once. This so-called Web 2.0 era is strongly associated with new Internet services enabling this new form of online communication – social networking sites (SNS) (Raacke and Bonds-Raacke, 2008; Nadkarni and Hofmann, 2012). One possible reason for Facebook’s success is based on the human drive to form social bonds and to communicate (Wilson et al, 2012)
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