Abstract
Research trying to understand individual difference in the use of different social networking sites (SNSs) is minimal. In the present study, we collected data from 714 college students in China (273 males) to assess how personality traits and psychological factors relate to excessive use of WeChat and Weibo. We found that excessive use of Weibo and WeChat correlated positively with neuroticism, loneliness, and external locus of control and negatively with agreeableness, social support, and social interaction. Furthermore, people that scored high on loneliness, lack of social support, and poor social interaction skills excessively used Weibo more than WeChat. These results entail that by fulfilling different needs, WeChat and Weibo attract different kinds of people; significant lesson for future development of SNSs.
Highlights
The internet is an essential component of our life, which influences many aspects of human behavior
External Locus of Control and Social Interaction in Real Life Differences in the Use of Weibo and WeChat Our results showed that excessive use of both Weibo and WeChat is associated with external locus of control
The study investigated how individual difference are associated with the use of Weibo and WeChat
Summary
The internet is an essential component of our life, which influences many aspects of human behavior. Popular SNSs such as Facebook and Twitter in US and WeChat and Weibo in China, allow individuals to express themselves, exchange information, and socialize. These sites attract and host millions of users. Joinson (2004) pointed out that internet behavior is a product of both the user and the specific tool, such that individual differences and personality can influence computer-media choices (Amiel and Sargent, 2004; Ryan and Xenos, 2011; Hou et al, 2014). Because in mass communication much initiative to link media choice lies with users (Katz et al, 1974) This implies that people use the media to fulfill individual’s specific different needs and gratifications
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