Facebook influences you more than me: The perceived impact of social media effects among young Facebook users

Authors

  • Nicoleta Corbu National University of Politcal Studies and Public Administration
  • Oana Ştefăniţă National University of Politcal Studies and Public Administration
  • Raluca Buturoiu National University of Politcal Studies and Public Administration

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19195/1899-5101.10.2(19).6

Keywords:

Third-person effect, social media, behavioural component of the TPE, message desirability, message type

Abstract

The popularity and prevalent use of Facebook among young people are common pre­occupations for communication researchers. They focus on unveiling people’s motivations, usage be­haviour, and gratifications offered by this communication medium. However, little attention has been invested in examining how young people perceive this new type of media consumption and its effects on themselves as compared to others. Drawing on Davison’s 1983 third-person effect hypothesis, this research paper investigates the a differences in estimated Facebook effects on self versus others, b association between the desirability of the message anti-social versus pro-social and estimated Facebook effects on self versus others, and c association between the type of the message and es­timated Facebook effects on self versus others. These relationships are studied with reference to the behavioural component of the third-person effect. Results confirm that Facebook might influence the magnitude and direction of the perceptual gap of media effects.

Author Biographies

Nicoleta Corbu, National University of Politcal Studies and Public Administration

Nicoleta Corbu is professor at the College of Communication and Public Relations, SNSPA, Romania. She coordinates the Center for Research in Communication. Her academic interests include media effects, agenda setting and public opinion.

Oana Ştefăniţă, National University of Politcal Studies and Public Administration

Oana Ştefăniţă is an assistant professor at the College of Communication and Public Relations, SNSPA, Romania. Her academic interests are dedicated to communication theories, media effects, and psychology.

Raluca Buturoiu, National University of Politcal Studies and Public Administration

Raluca Buturoiu is an assistant professor at the College of Communication and Public Relations, SNSPA, Romania. Her academic interests focus on media studies, traditional versus social media effects, framing studies and public sphere.

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Published

2017-12-27

How to Cite

Corbu, N., Ştefăniţă, O., & Buturoiu, R. . (2017). Facebook influences you more than me: The perceived impact of social media effects among young Facebook users . Central European Journal of Communication, 10(2(19), 239-253. https://doi.org/10.19195/1899-5101.10.2(19).6

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 2(19) (2017): Fall 2017

Section

Scientific Papers

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