Digital Divide 2.0: The Role of Social Networking Sites in Seeking Health Information Online From a Longitudinal Perspective

Abstract

Adopting a longitudinal angle, this study analyzed data from the Pew Internet's Health Tracking Survey in 2006, 2008, and 2010 to identify potential communication inequalities in social networking site use. Results showed that with the growing role of social networking site use in predicting people's likelihood of seeking health information online, the socioeconomic and demographic factors that contributed to the disparities in social networking site use could also lead to disparities in seeking health information online. Also, results indicated that people are more likely to seek heath-related information online if they or their close family or friends have a chronic disease situation.

Notes

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

^a Reference group: female.

^b Reference group: non-White.

*p < .0167.

^a Reference group: female.

^b Reference group: non-White.

^c Reference group: people who did not have chronic disease or none of their close others had chronic disease.

^d Reference group: people who did not use social networking sites.

*p < .0167.

^a Reference group: female.

^b Reference group: non-White.

^c Reference group: people who did not have chronic disease or none of their close others had chronic disease.

^d Reference group: people who did not use social networking sites.

*p < .0167.

^a Reference group: female.

^b Reference group: non-White.

^c Reference group: people who did not have chronic disease or none of their close others had chronic disease.

^d Reference group: people who did not use social networking sites.