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Abstract
Facebook (FB) and Twitter are popular social networking sites. This study examined differences between those who use both sites versus only FB, to test the hypothesis that mono-users differ in their personality characteristics from users active in both websites. Participants were 205 undergraduate students: 96 only used FB, 109 used FB and Twitter. Participants who used both sites reported significantly lower loneliness, higher number of FB friends, and lower number of minutes spent online, as compared to those who used only FB. Loneliness was positively associated with FB use only in those who used FB alone but was negatively associated with and negatively predicted both FB and Twitter use in those who used both websites. Findings suggest that more intense use of online interactions is more frequently found in mono-users (people using only Facebook) as compared to those using both websites, and it is predicted by increased feelings of loneliness. The current study findings provide additional insights on what personality factors may make some people prone to excessive use of social networking sites.
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Notes on contributors
Nicola Petrocchi
Nicola Petrocchi is working on a Ph.D. in Psychology and Social Neuroscience at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. His research interests mainly focus on the efficacy of compassion-based techniques to reduce shame and self-criticism and increase self-compassion in depressed and anxious patients.
Anu Asnaani
Anu Asnaani is an Assistant Professor in Clinical Psychology at the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She specializes in the treatment and diagnosis of anxiety disorders, OCD and PTSD, with a focus on the mechanisms underlying the pathology and development of these disorders.
Alejandra Piquer Martinez
Alejandra Piquer Martinez is working on an MS in Clinical Psychology at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California. Her research interests mainly focus on the Latino community, and the understanding of suicide risks and preventive interventions for young Hispanic females.
Ashwini Nadkarni
Ashwini Nadkarni is Associate Physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital Instructor, Harvard Medical School. Her research interests involve the factors contributing to social networking sites use, in particular Facebook. She also works as a clinical practitioner.
Stefan G. Hofmann
Stefan G. Hofmann is Professor of Psychology at the Department of Psychology at Boston University where he directs the Psychotherapy and Emotion Research Laboratory. His research focuses on social interactions and emotions, as well as the mechanism of treatment change and translating discoveries from neuroscience into clinical applications.