Saving Face on Facebook: Impression Management as Motivation to Use Social Networks

摘要

Use of social networks is ubiquitous. We contend that a catalyst for using social networks is defining and communicating one's identity to others. We build and justify a model that predicts motivations to use a social network in terms of users' perceptions of autonomy in using the social network, and their perceived control over their identity communication. We additionally model and justify the effects of perceived social benefits and need for self-esteem on the use of social networks. This unique model provides an interesting lens through which the phenomenon of social networks use can be examined. The completion of the proposed study should provide unique and interesting insights that inform our understanding of the phenomenon of social network use.