Gender differences in using social networks

MAZMAN AKAR S. G., USLUEL Y.

Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, cilt.10, sa.2, ss.133-139, 2011 (SSCI) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 10 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2011
  • Dergi Adı: Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.133-139
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Facebook, Gender differences, Social networks, Usage purposes
  • Uşak Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

The purpose of this study is to determine individuals' usage purposes of social networks with a focus on the possible differences between females and males. Facebook, which is one the most popular and being most widely used social network, is investigated in this study. The study group consisted of 870 Facebook users who responded an online survey designed by the researchers. Analyses of the results showed that usage purposes can be categorized under four categories, namely maintaining existing relationships, making new relationships, using for academic purposes and following specific agenda. Significant differences were found between genders in all of the purposes mentioned. While the difference on making new contacts was in favor of males, the differences on the other three user purposes were in favor of females. © The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology.