Zeynep Tufekci, Ph.DZeynep Tufekci, Ph.DDepartment of SociologyDepartment of Sociology

Paper presented at ICWSMPaper presented at ICWSMMay 24May 24, 20, 201010

UMBC

Who Acquires Friends Who Acquires Friends Through Social Media and Through Social Media and

Why?Why?"Rich Get Richer" versus "Rich Get Richer" versus "Seek and Ye Shall Find""Seek and Ye Shall Find"

A Little About MeA Little About Me

►Unpronouncable nameUnpronouncable name (Zeynep Tufekci) (Zeynep Tufekci)►Originally from Istanbul, TurkeyOriginally from Istanbul, Turkey►Assistant Professor of Sociology at Assistant Professor of Sociology at UMBCUMBC►I study how technology interacts with I study how technology interacts with

societysociety SocialitySociality Surveillance/PrivacySurveillance/Privacy InequalityInequality

On FriendshipOn Friendship

FriendsFriends

►Importance of friendship & social networks:Importance of friendship & social networks: Health, well-being, social supportHealth, well-being, social support Economic benefitsEconomic benefits Civic participationCivic participation

►Debate about social isolationDebate about social isolation Americans have fewer confidantsAmericans have fewer confidants Internet has been suggested as culpritInternet has been suggested as culprit

Architecture of our CommonsArchitecture of our Commons

►Sociality does not happen in a vacuumSociality does not happen in a vacuum►Infratstructure of SocialityInfratstructure of Sociality includes includes: :

Village (well, mill)Village (well, mill) Town (church, porch)Town (church, porch) Modernity (trade unions, bowling club)Modernity (trade unions, bowling club) Late Capitalism (online)Late Capitalism (online)

Mediated RelationshipsMediated Relationships

►Are they:Are they:►Superficial, weak, fake?Superficial, weak, fake?►Supplementary to offline sociality?Supplementary to offline sociality?►As real or more?As real or more?

►And why does this debate refuse And why does this debate refuse to die?to die?

TThe Assumptionshe Assumptions

►Anonymous, text-based, fleetingAnonymous, text-based, fleeting - Lonely crowds online- Lonely crowds online + Stranger on a train+ Stranger on a train

►Lack of visual cuesLack of visual cues - Limited communication- Limited communication + Hyperpersonal+ Hyperpersonal

Today’s InternetToday’s Internet

►Social media:Social media: Most interaction with people we already knowMost interaction with people we already know Non-transitoryNon-transitory Lots of visual cues, photosLots of visual cues, photos Online social network sites, social mediaOnline social network sites, social media

New Friends Online?New Friends Online?

►Empirical findings: Empirical findings: About a fifth of people make new friends onlineAbout a fifth of people make new friends online Some migrate into offline relationshipsSome migrate into offline relationships Who makes new friends?Who makes new friends?

Who Makes New Friends Online?Who Makes New Friends Online?

►Rich Get RicherRich Get Richer

►Social CompensationSocial Compensation

SampleSample

►College College studentsstudents►617 617 respondentsrespondents►Multiple classroomsMultiple classrooms►Very diverse schoolVery diverse school►Diverse majorsDiverse majors

54.6%45.3%Asian-American

47.4%52.5%Hispanic / Other

48.651.3Total

184 min160minTime on Web***

49 min45 minTime on SNS

14.515.6Number of Friends

19.619.3Age

8.9 yrs8.6 yrsYears on Net

Mean

48.2%51.7%Black

43.7%56.3%White

51.7%48.2%Female

45.8%54.1%Male

Yes PossibleNot Possible

Online Friendship

Predicting Predicting New Friendships New Friendships (Logistic Regression / Odds Ratios)

ll -409.789 -409.649 -398.411 -395.481

Chi2 19.812* 20.092* 42.568*** 48.428***

N 617 617 617 617

_cons 5.353 4.774 1.300 1.416

(0.265)

Belief in Online Friendship 1.522*

Time on Web 1.016 1.002

Time on SNS 1.261*** 1.264***

No of Friends 1.003 1.001 1.001

Uses IM 1.655* 1.647* 1.472 1.431

Age 0.905* 0.908+ 0.944 0.936

Years on Web 0.997 0.995 0.998 0.995

Other Race 0.989 0.999 0.910 0.897

Asian 1.448+ 1.463+ 1.353 1.305

Hispanic 0.735 0.734 0.620 0.636

Black 1.908* 1.909* 1.706* 1.677*

Female 0.987 1.001 0.870 0.891

Exp(b)/se Exp(b)/se Exp(b)/se Exp(b)/se

Model 1 Model 2 Model 3 Model 4

Predicting Predicting New Friendships New Friendships Updated (Logistic Regression / Odds Ratios)

ll -409.789 -409.649 -398.411 -385.6

Chi2 19.812* 20.092* 42.568*** 48.428***

N 617 617 617 602

_cons 5.353 4.774 1.300 1.60

Time with friends 0.99

Belief in Online Friendship 1.55*

Time on Web 1.016 1.00

Time on SNS 1.26*** 1.27***

No of Friends 1.003 1.001 1.00

Uses IM 1.655* 1.647* 1.472 1.45

Age 0.905* 0.908+ 0.944 0.94

Years on Web 0.997 0.995 0.998 0.99

Other Race 0.989 0.999 0.910 0.90

Asian 1.448+ 1.463+ 1.353 1.23

Hispanic 0.735 0.734 0.620 0.60

Black 1.90* 1.90* 1.70* 1.58+

Female 0.987 1.001 0.870 0.87

Exp(b)/se Exp(b)/se Exp(b)/se Exp(b)/se

Model 1 Model 2 Model 3 Model 5

Not PossibleNot Possible

►TrustTrust►Face-to-Face InteractionFace-to-Face Interaction►Body LanguageBody Language►Shared emotions / experienceShared emotions / experience

TrustTrust

►““It’s hard enough to tell if people are lying It’s hard enough to tell if people are lying in person” in person”

►““People can make themselves out to be People can make themselves out to be whomever they want online”whomever they want online”

►““How do you know if someone is not playing How do you know if someone is not playing games with you?”games with you?”

Need Face-to-Face Need Face-to-Face

►““You need face-to-face interaction to You need face-to-face interaction to become close to someone.” become close to someone.”

►““A face-to-face connection is different. It’s A face-to-face connection is different. It’s absolutely essential”absolutely essential”

►““You cannot create a friendship without You cannot create a friendship without face-to-face interaction”face-to-face interaction”

Body Language - MannerismsBody Language - Mannerisms►““Part of knowing somebody involves seeing Part of knowing somebody involves seeing

body language and knowing what your body language and knowing what your friend looks like”friend looks like”

►““Human interaction and body language is Human interaction and body language is essential to all relationships – observing essential to all relationships – observing mannerisms, gestures and other non-verbal mannerisms, gestures and other non-verbal methods of communicating allow you to get methods of communicating allow you to get to know someone better”to know someone better”

►““Physical contact and experiencing their Physical contact and experiencing their mannerisms face-to-face cannot be gained mannerisms face-to-face cannot be gained through plain words.”through plain words.”

Shared Emotions & ExperiencesShared Emotions & Experiences

►““You need to hang out with them”You need to hang out with them”

►““There is more to close friendship besides There is more to close friendship besides talking. You need to experience things talking. You need to experience things together, and I believe this requires together, and I believe this requires physically being in the same place.”physically being in the same place.”

►““You don’t know how they react to real You don’t know how they react to real situations. You’ve never seen them express situations. You’ve never seen them express emotion”emotion”

Yes, PossibleYes, Possible

►Deeper ConnectionsDeeper Connections►Bonding can equal to face-to-faceBonding can equal to face-to-face►Conversation as coreConversation as core►ExperienceExperience►Depends (if honest and open)Depends (if honest and open)►Strangers on a train – not so muchStrangers on a train – not so much

Deeper Connections - EasierDeeper Connections - Easier

►““Sometimes not being face-to-face makes it Sometimes not being face-to-face makes it easier to share information”easier to share information”

►““You do not feel embarrassed to say certain You do not feel embarrassed to say certain things”things”

►““It may even be easier online as it is all It may even be easier online as it is all dialogue and no physical characteristics are dialogue and no physical characteristics are involved”involved”

Deeper Connections - Deeper Connections - JJudgementudgement

►““When you are talking to a box on your When you are talking to a box on your computer, there is less pressure than face computer, there is less pressure than face to face communication. And boxes on a to face communication. And boxes on a screen don’t judge you the way someone screen don’t judge you the way someone face-to-face does.”face-to-face does.”

►““There are no preconceived judgments. You There are no preconceived judgments. You feel open to say anything and be yourself.”feel open to say anything and be yourself.”

►““Because you can connect and share Because you can connect and share problems and feelings with them without problems and feelings with them without the risk of facing their reaction or the risk of facing their reaction or judgment.”judgment.”

Bonding is PossibleBonding is Possible

►““If there is a connection it doesn't matter.”If there is a connection it doesn't matter.”

► “ “Proximity does not necessarily mean being Proximity does not necessarily mean being physically close to one another. With instant physically close to one another. With instant messages, proximity can be as real as messages, proximity can be as real as having the person next to you.”having the person next to you.”

►““Because they could get to know each other Because they could get to know each other well without seeing each other physically” well without seeing each other physically”

Conversation as KeyConversation as Key

► ““Stories and secrets and sympathy can be Stories and secrets and sympathy can be exchanged. exchanged. AAnd these are important for nd these are important for friendship”friendship”

► ““While you cannot see each other, conversation is While you cannot see each other, conversation is one of the best ways to get to know someone. If one of the best ways to get to know someone. If you trust them, it can become a deep and you trust them, it can become a deep and meaningful relationship”meaningful relationship”

► ““Conversation is key for close relationships.”Conversation is key for close relationships.”

► ““You can share things and know almost everything You can share things and know almost everything you can know about a person by talking to them you can know about a person by talking to them online.”online.”

ExperienceExperience

►““I indeed have a few close friends that I talk I indeed have a few close friends that I talk to on a regular basis and know quite wellto on a regular basis and know quite well..””

►““I only say yes because it happened to me I only say yes because it happened to me twice.”twice.”

►““Anything is possible. I know people that Anything is possible. I know people that have met their spouse through the have met their spouse through the Internet.”Internet.”

Stranger on a Train - rareStranger on a Train - rare

►““I wouldn’t want to meet the person but I wouldn’t want to meet the person but having someone to talk to about personal having someone to talk to about personal things who doesn’t know anyone else you things who doesn’t know anyone else you know is an advantage”know is an advantage”

►““It’s good because then odds are that It’s good because then odds are that person doesn’t know any of your friends person doesn’t know any of your friends and they can’t slip and say something”and they can’t slip and say something”

Some ConclusionsSome Conclusions

►No support for Rich Gets RicherNo support for Rich Gets Richer►Very mild support for social compensationVery mild support for social compensation►Online sociability appears oOnline sociability appears orthagonal to rthagonal to

offline socialityoffline sociality (measured as no of friends (measured as no of friends and time with friends)and time with friends) It’s not that the already gregarious are It’s not that the already gregarious are

expanding their social sphereexpanding their social sphere It’s not the social misfits catching upIt’s not the social misfits catching up

►Race? Why?Race? Why?

*a note on methods*a note on methods

►This study demonstrates why it may be This study demonstrates why it may be productive to pair uproductive to pair unobstrusive methods nobstrusive methods with talking to people (surveys/ interviews / with talking to people (surveys/ interviews / ethnographies )ethnographies ) Categories may be hiddenCategories may be hidden Differences can wash outDifferences can wash out

Third Level Digital DifferenceThird Level Digital Difference

►InequityInequity Access Access Skill Skill

►DifferenceDifference CyberCyberasociality?asociality? (cyberaphilia?) (cyberaphilia?)

cy cy ●● ber ber ●●

a a ●● so so ●●

ci ci ●● al al ●● i i ●● ty ty

\sī-bər\sī-bər--ā-sō-shē-a-lə-tē\ā-sō-shē-a-lə-tē\

►The inability or unwillingness of some The inability or unwillingness of some people to relate to others via social media people to relate to others via social media as they do when physically presentas they do when physically present

►Can emerge only as a modern ailment (like Can emerge only as a modern ailment (like dyslexia)dyslexia)

cy cy ●● ber ber ●●

a a ●● so so ●●

ci ci ●● al al ●● i i ●● ty ty

\sī-bər\sī-bər--ā-sō-shē-a-lə-tē\ā-sō-shē-a-lə-tē\

Why It MattersWhy It Matters►Signature of late modernity: individual Signature of late modernity: individual

solutions to structural problemssolutions to structural problems►Historic shift from ascribed social ties to Historic shift from ascribed social ties to

achieved social tiesachieved social ties►Cyberasociality may hinder Cyberasociality may hinder navigating the navigating the

new architectures of our emerging social new architectures of our emerging social commonscommons

cy cy ●● ber ber ●●

a a ●● so so ●●

ci ci ●● al al ●● i i ●● ty ty

\sī-bər\sī-bər--ā-sō-shē-a-lə-tē\ā-sō-shē-a-lə-tē\

► Humans as social animalHumans as social animal Social responsivity is not a cognitive artifactSocial responsivity is not a cognitive artifact

► Writing is not simply speech on paperWriting is not simply speech on paper Orality, literacy and cognitive stylesOrality, literacy and cognitive styles Written grammar : humans out of contextWritten grammar : humans out of context

► Mediated-socialityMediated-sociality Alteration of the architectureAlteration of the architecture – alteration in response – alteration in response ConsequentialConsequential

Techno-capitalTechno-capital

►A new dimension of techno-capital?A new dimension of techno-capital? Techno-capital: expanding on BourdieuTechno-capital: expanding on Bourdieu ‘‘Techno-capital/competencies’ as a product of Techno-capital/competencies’ as a product of

techno-dispositions, provides certain resources techno-dispositions, provides certain resources to interact and negotiate within the techno-to interact and negotiate within the techno-field.” (Defined in Rojas et al.,2004 & 2006 and field.” (Defined in Rojas et al.,2004 & 2006 and Straubhaar et al. forthcoming)Straubhaar et al. forthcoming)

cy cy ●● ber ber ●●

a a ●● so so ●●

ci ci ●● al al ●● i i ●● ty ty

\sī-bər\sī-bər--ā-sō-shē-a-lə-tē\ā-sō-shē-a-lə-tē\

►Choice? Learned? Personality trait? Genetic Choice? Learned? Personality trait? Genetic Influence?Influence? MaybeMaybe all all Likely visible in other waysLikely visible in other ways Likely testableLikely testable

Thank you! Questions?Thank you! Questions?

Zeynep TufekciZeynep Tufekci

zeynep@umbc.eduzeynep@umbc.edu@techsoc@techsoc

www.technosociology.orgwww.technosociology.org