The Connection Between Personality Traits and Social Media

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Requirement

Choose a specific social media platform and interview people to see how it has affected their lived. Select five people, and ask them the following questions:
1. How has the platform affected their relationships to others
2. How has the platform changed their identities or expressions of their identity
3. How has the platform changed their offline behavior
You will then need to draw some conclusion from the responses, and then compare them to current scholarly literature. For example, if a majority of your respondents claim to take a lot more photos after signing up to instagram, then what does the literature say about social media and photography.
Your paper must be 2000-2500 words (NOT including appendix or bibliography), and make use of five scholarly sources. Because interviews are considered data, you will need to transcribe all of the responses and put them into an appendix. (Hence, it's probably better to email your questions to people.)
show how it is having three powerful benefits on people in your area. You may define “your area” however you wish but be sure to explain what you mean by this in the first paragraph or two of the paper. For this essay, you must interview at least five people and integrate their views into your paper.
The paper should be 5-7 pages and contain all traditional academic essay components: introduction containing clear and spirited thesis, sequenced paragraphs, and a powerful conclusion. Please consult our Writing Module for tips on how to best achieve these things. Your Works Cited should have between 4-6 sources, which can be drawn from the class materials.

Solution

INTRODUCTION

The year of 1971 witness the delivery of the first email. 40 years later, today’s world is taken by storm by social media. The first question is what a social media is. A social media can be defined as an array of Internet sites, which enables us to connect with people situated round the globe through posts, photos, blogs, videos or other ways.  Social networking sites, like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, are now being used almost by everyone.  These activities may seem harmless, but according to many researches, social media affects the mental health and well being  of human in many significant ways.

"On the surface, Facebook provides an invaluable resource for fulfilling the basic human need for social connection," says Kross. "But rather than enhance well-being, we found that Facebook use predicts the opposite result - it undermines it."

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Now the question is whether such claims are exaggerated? Is it really necessary to check our usage of such platforms?

For this report, we selected Facebook to be our subject of study and interviewed five individuals on how usage of Facebook has affected their personality or way of thinking and interacting with people. Facebook is the leading social networking site, with more than 1.2 billion global active users every month. The latest statistics show that around 42% of online adults use multiple social networking sites. Moreover, the majority of social media users are under the age of 30, although the number of older users is on the rise. Around 45% of Internet users aged 65 or older now uses Facebook, increasing from 35% in 2012.
The three important aspects that stood out after interacting with five individuals are that Facebook definitely helps us to remain connected with old friends and acquaintances, meet new people with similar interests and helps in interacting with people and opportunities across the globe. But many a times, people try to portrait a self image that is way different from his actual self, as others only perceive him on the basis of the virtual image that he creates with the activities that he does online. People’s activities online are always scrutinized and considered to be the key factor in developing a judgment about a person, hence it is advisable to take care of our online activities when someone is in a respectable post in an organization or society. Lastly, it is definitely a time consuming platform because it is highly addictive. People tend to spend hours online playing games, chatting with friends which they could have utilized in a better way. 

LITERATURE REVIEW

The first thing that comes to our mind when we talk about Social Media connecting everyone in today’s world is Technology. According to Soren Gordhamer, in his book Wisdom 2.0 (Soren Gordhamer, 2007), technology is neither the answer nor the problem. The most important components of today’s world are Awareness, Engagement, and Wisdom. Wisdom 2.0 addresses the primary challenge of the age: it is not only about living connected to one another via technology, but to do so in a way  that are mutually beneficial, useful and effective. The importance of studies related to social media and individual personality is gaining attention now-a-days, but very few researches for the effect of social media on personality traits were conducted (Ozguven & Mucan, 2013; Hunt & Langstedt, 2014).
One interesting was done by Norsiah Abdul Hamid, Mohd Sobhi Ishak and Siti Syamsul Nurin Mohmad Yazam. In their research ‘Facebook, YouTube and Instagram: Exploring Their Effects on Undergraduate Students’ Personality Traits’, they examined the effects of usage of social media on Norman’s (1963) five-factor personality traits. The model provided evidence of the effects of usage of   Facebook and other social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube on Extraversion, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Neuroticism and Openness to Experience. According to Ryan and Xenos (2011), Facebook users are likely to be less conscientious as well as socially lonely than non-users. Besides, individuals using Facebook   are likely to be more extraverted. This also has a positive effect on online engagements of politics as well as sharing of pictures (Hunt & Langstedt, 2014). 

Another interesting work was done by June Ahn in her research ‘The Effect of Social Network Sites on Adolescents’ Social and Academic Development: Current Theories and Controversies’. Many recent studies found that the youth spends a good proportion of their daily life interacting through the social media platform. For an example, according to a national survey conducted in the year of 2009, 73% of youth uses social media for interacting, which is a staright forward increase of 22% from 55%, 3 years earlier (Lenhart, Purcell, Smith, & Zickuhr, 2010). Questions as well as controversies arise about the effects of social media on their overall development. The report brings together significant work from disparate fields, examining the relationship between usage of social media and, privacy, psychological well-being, youth safety and also career related aspects. These researches strands speak to high-profile concerns and controversies that surround participation of youth in these online communities, and offer ripe areas for future research.

APPROACH

To understand the effect of Facebook, I interviewed five individuals from five domains. All five of them were asked to provide answers of the below questions based of their real-life experiences and perceptions about their Facebook usage:

  • 1.    How has the platform affected your relationships to others?

  • 2.    How has the platform changed your identities or expressions of your identity?

  • 3.    How has the platform changed your offline behavior?

Most of the people interviewed were aged around 25 years while I also got some valuable insights from a trained and experienced motivator and professional trainer. His personal views about the everyday usage of Facebook were really appropriate and of great help in understanding the present scenario.

THREE IMPORTANT POINTS THAT STOOD OUT IN THE INTERACTIONS WITH THE FIVE INDIVIDUALS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

  • 1.    There was a unanimous agreement on the fact that Facebook is a platform that actually helps in keeping old as well as distant friends connected.

  • 2.    An action of an individual always defines his character; the scenario is somewhat same with individuals using Facebook. Here, the posts, activities and actions of people actually define his character, or in other words we are prone to judge the personality of someone based on his online behavior.

  • 3.    It is an addiction – too much time is wasted online which could have been utilized in a better way otherwise.

SOCIAL MEDIA – AN IMPORTANT PLATFORM TO REMAIN CONNECTED TO EVERYONE

Ten years ago, it was really very difficult to keep in contact with batch mates, whom we went to high school or college with. When we move to new cities due to job, we lose touch with most people we once knew permanently. Facebook is making it very much easier for everyone to remain connected with all our friends right from high school to college , university or job, find long lost friends we may have gone to kinder garden with or met on an a brief internship and reconnect after many years. Facebook is definitely a great medium to know what is happening in the lives of families staying far away and friends and also to meet new people.

On conversation with Shuvajit Sarkar, a professional speaker and motivator and trainer, Facebook has helped him to reconnect with his school and college friends, whom he hadn’t met for 35 years. He believed that it really helps in creating, enhancing and consolidating relationships with people. People definitely still meet others at different social venues like parties and clubs, but it is much easier to discover new and interesting people who share our outlook towards a particular thing or similar interests through Facebook. There are many different groups specific to different interests and useful groups for finding job postings, finding flats or flat mates in a new city or gathering information regarding a new institution. Even if someone’s interests are in an absolutely obscure area like 15th century French poetry or Tibetian art, he will always find a Facebook group or a Facebook page about it.

Ashutosh Singh, one of the interviewee, who heads the Business Analytics team at his Company says he really benefitted through the ease of communication between like minded people on Facebook. According to him, he connected to someone from his college via suggestions on Facebook, and when they started talking, it was initially a light discussion on a common topic of interest; but eventually ended in an opportunity which benefitted both of them.
Of course, there is only so much communication that can happen through Facebook. People connect with new people on Facebook, they start their initial on this platform which they later be developed by using phone calls or personal meetings. Studies have revealed that the time spent on the social network sites has almost tripled in the last year. Facebook is reported to have primarily centered around connecting with many people and remaining in touch with old and new friends. In simple words, Facebook is increasingly being used by everyone to maintain and find both potentially new and old long time friendships.
Connections on Facebook are also increasingly becoming people’s trusted sources of information, even more than search engines. Tech blogger Mark Cuban recently noted, "For the 1st time ever, more people are finding my blog from Twitter and Facebook referrals than via Google.”

SOCIAL MEDIA – DEFINING IMPRESSIONS ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL’S PERSONALITY

There was an old paradigm in communication that people in general revealed really very little about their doubts and fears. They tried to replicate or present a totally different image of themselves to other people, that appear to be completely confident as well as knowledgeable. The primary goal was to make sure that they appeared like they totally have the situation under their control. But this is somewhat shifting, because extensive use of Facebook. The paradigm now is not to appear insanely perfect, but to be more transparent with our thoughts, feelings and people sometimes do not even fear to reveal their actual self. 
We have queens, who are not hesitating to acknowledge that they even get nervous at times when speaking, CEOs being more honest and at times using blogs to express reservations over past decisions, and people openly sharing personal views on social issues. Of course, what we decide to reveal and when to reveal it can be delicate, and there will always likely be items we wish to keep private. However, instead of working on hiding shortcoming and weaknesses, feelings and thoughts, social media like Facebook is actually helping to create a greater personal transparency.

The real reason behind this, people are actually always being judged by their actions online. Someone appearing fake online, really can’t be trusted in the real life too and in this age, it is very difficult to get away with fake self online.According to Ashutosh, most people virtually create a different personality, something they aspire to be, rather than who they are, to woo the people they want to be in the group with, resulting in over expectations and culminating in depression. He speaks of one of my friends whom he knows personally. He has created some social accounts which depict him as someone who he isn't.

For some people, Facebook posts can really affect their self esteem. When they come to know what other friends are doing, or places they are visiting, people fail to acknowledge the hype that is used during creating such posts. Many people, mainly the young population ends up comparing their own selves with others on matters that are really insignificant in real life. There is sometimes constant feeling that if you are not doing something interesting to post online, then you are worthless. This makes their self esteem dented, which have really negative impact on them. 

Akshay, who works as a Senior Analyst believes that social media platforms like Facebook helps in strengthening your identity as he believes that a person behaves in same way on social media as in real life. This kind of perception is true for many people. People easily develop a sense of judgment about individual based on his or her activities online. Hence, in today’s world, where it doesn’t take much time in things getting viral on Facebook, people has to be very careful of what he is sharing on this platform.

SOCIAL MEDIA – EATING UP A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME

We all need some time out. We need some time to enable us to recharge our mental batteries. This addiction of over keeping an eye on what is happening in the lives of other people lead us to remain constantly online. People sometimes develop this bad habit of constantly checking out their phones even when they are out on some personal meeting with friends. Shuvajit believes that Facebook changed his offline behavior to a significant degree, as it has taken up a significant part of my daily time and this has reduced my offline interaction & even the urge for it. He confesses that his daily exchange with my long distance contacts on social media is more crucial part of my social life than offline, in the present state.Social media sites are a great form of entertainment. This is the another reason that people are spending more time on social media. There are so many videos that people post on their timelines, interesting games, people constantly flooding the timeline with pictures, views and has become the most important source of reading daily news.

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CONCLUSION

There are numerous cultural changes that occur in every era, but the era in which we live in, it has been intensely impacted by social media. It has both positive as well as negative impact of our lives. The real challenge is in understanding how much Facebook is helpful for us. Excessive use will always cause a negative effect on our personal lives and relationships. Facebook has a lot of good things to offer. Hence it will be wise and advisable to utilize these platforms to the fullest and not let ourselves fall prey to the fake extravaganza portrayed by these platforms. The ultimate decision lies on the hands of an individual how he wants to make use of such technologies.

APPENDIX
TRANSCRIPTS
INTERVIEWEE NO. 1

Name: Ashutosh Singh, 26 years (Business Analyst & Analytics Expert, Altrimetrix | IIM Calcutta
How has the platform affected your relationships to others?
Answer: I am able to know the happenings in other’s lives ... though I am not in touch. I am able to connect to maybe people from same community, though I might not have met them, leading to a business/job opportunity or a changed career path.
Ex- connected to someone from our college via suggestions on Facebook ... leading to a discussion on a common topic of interest and eventually ending in an opportunity which benefitted both of us.
How has the platform changed your identities or expressions of your identity?
Answer: Most people virtually create a different personality. Personality which they aspire to be, rather than who they are, to woo the people they want to be in the group with, resulting in over expectations and culminating in depression.
E.g.- One of my friends whom I know personally has created some social accounts which depicts him as someone who he isn't.
How has the platform changed your offline behavior?
Answer: Many people are focusing more on virtual interaction ignoring the real world happenings. People become so addicted to social media notifications and happenings that they are not able to contribute fully to daily activities resulting in loss of productivity.
Another effect that it has on offline behavior is ... people tend to believe whatever is posted -- mostly about politics and religion -- hateful, misinformed and emotional information is used by some radical groups to just disturb the society.
Eg- Nowdays whenever I go to some outings or parties, people spend most of their times on phones rather than actual conversation with the person sitting beside them.

INTERVIEWEE NO. 2

Name: Shuvajit Sarkar, 50 years (Professional Trainer & Motivator, Career Launcher)
How has the platform affected your relationships to others?
Answer: Social media has provided a platform to create, enhance & consolidate relationships with people. Including ones I have never met & not met for years & meet infrequently. E.g. My school friends which include those I have not met for 35 years & yet enjoy being reconnected & stay connected
How has the platform changed your identities or expressions of your identity?
Answer: The platform has changed my identities or expressions of my identities, based on the nature of the relationships that I enjoy with various contacts on social media. As my assessment is based on the expressions & responses in social media, and not based on face to face interaction or even telecom, it changes the identity accordingly. E.g. A social media friend who know me courtesy only the social media & never met me in real life, construe me based on my responses on the same.
How has the platform changed your offline behavior?
Answer: Social media has changed my offline behavior to a significant degree, as it has taken up a significant part of my daily time and this has reduced my offline interaction & even the urge for it. Eg. The daily exchange with my long distance contacts on social media is the more crucial part of my social life than offline, in the present state.

INTERVIEWEE NO. 3

Name: Purba Chatterjee, 25 years (Final Year M.Tech Student, IIT Kanpur)
How has the platform affected your relationships to others?
Answer: Has enabled me to stay in touch with my kin, living in other parts of India and abroad. E.g. Most of my relatives are on Facebook and on my friend list. This helps me to keep posted about their lives.
How has the platform changed your identities or expressions of your identity?
Answer: A lot of your online image depends on the pages u like and the updates u post. One's online identity has come into existence. E.g. When I visit someone's profile I do go through his likes and notes if any
How has the platform changed your offline behavior?
Answer: The platform has brought the world closer. E.g. It’s easier to first contact someone online and then offline.

INTERVIEWEE NO. 4

Name: Akshay Durugkar, 25 years (Senior Analyst, IQR Analytics)
How has the platform affected your relationships to others?
Answer: Positively. With more increased contacts and social media presence I am more aware of the events in other people’s lives and hence keep me updated at the same time I can easily connect top them hence improving my relationship.
How has the platform changed your identities or expressions of your identity?
Answer: It helps strengthen your identity as I believe a person behaves in same way on social media as in real life so for Ex: if a active speaker/identify would be same online as he/she is offline.
How has the platform changed your offline behavior?
Answer: As your post/events can be read by numerous people even those who don't know you hence one has to be very precise and accurate and stable while one updates stuff online, and that same nature would creep in to you in the offline mode as well.

INTERVIEWEE NO. 5

Name: Pragyamita Sen Sarkar, 25 years (Lawyer)
How has the platform affected your relationships to others?
Answer: Because of such platform I was able to connect to long lost people from my previous school. I cud also get to know about what they r doing right now like whether they are studying or working anywhere.
How has the platform changed your identities or expressions of your identity?
Answer: The platform didn't affect my identity. But yes, whenever I (accidentally) get a good selfie of mine, of prepare ne good looking dish or paint a nice picture I always think of uploading it as soon as possible.
How has the platform changed your offline behavior?
Answer: It didn't change my offline behavior at all.

REFERENCES

  • 1.    Wisdom 2.0, Soren, Gordhamer April 7, 2009

  • 2.    Facebook, YouTube and Instagram: Exploring Their Effects on Undergraduate Students’ Personality Traits, Norsiah Abdul Hamid, Mohd Sobhi Ishak, Siti Syamsul Nurin Mohmad Yazam

  • 3.    The relationship between personality traits and social media use. Social Behavior and Personality, Ozguven, N., & Mucan, B. 2013

  • 4.    Who uses Facebook? An investigation into the relationship between the Big Five, shyness, narcissism, loneliness, and Facebook usage. Computers in Human Behavior, Ryan, T., & Xenos, S. (2011)

  • 5.    The influence of personality on digital photo sharing. The Journal of Social Media in Society, Hunt, D.S. & Langstedt, E. (2014)

  • 6.    The Effect of Social Network Sites on Adolescents’ Social and Academic Development: Current Theories and Controversies, John Ahn

  • 7.    Social media & mobile internet use among teens and young adults. Washington, DC: Pew Internet & American Life Project, Lenhart, A., Purcell, K., Smith, A., & Zickuhr, K. (2010)

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