This study examines information disclosure of Facebook users in America and Kenya. The main aim of this study is to find out the specific type of personal and demographic information that individuals disclose on their profiles. The literature review details the nature of social networking sites highlighting studies that have been carried out in the past on these sites. Self-disclosure is also discussed as described in the social penetration theory. An overview of the practice of public relations profession in Kenya is also given. The research study employs the content analysis methodology, with a total of 500 Facebook profiles being analyzed. Results of this study indicate that users disclose a lot of information on their Facebook profiles such as the use of a self-portrait as the main identifying mark on their profiles, their dates of birth, personal information such as religious and political views and education and work information. There are also major gender differences in information disclosure. There are also differences in information disclosure on Facebook between American users and Kenyan users. / Department of Journalism

This thesis examines how Baby Boomers utilize Facebook to promote radical political ideology. A convenience sample of 51 Baby Boomer Facebook profiles were selected and critically analyzed for radical content using Bernard L.Brock’s (1965) A Definition of Four Political Positions and a Description of their Rhetorical Characteristics, and Making Sense of Political Ideology: The Language of Democracy (Brock, et al., 2005). The rhetoric from these profiles was then categorized using James W. Chesebro’s (1972) Rhetorical Strategies of the Radical Revolutionary. Conclusions from the research indicate that radical Boomers on Facebook seem to have moved from real world activism to symbolic action on Facebook through the liking and sharing of radical articles and posts. Though consistent in posting radical content in their profiles, radical Boomers using Facebook in this study utilized profiles more to promote radical culture online than to foment political revolution offline. / Department of Telecommunications

The influence of the Internet and Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) on the ways in which individuals with different personality traits present themselves, has been brought into question increasingly as modern life requires more and more of an enmeshment with technology in everyday life. The presentation of the self on Facebook has been the focus of recent research, delivering results that vary and sometimes contradict common ideas of the effects of individuals’ interaction via technology, especially in terms of how personality traits, as determined by the Five-factor model, impact self-presentation. A systematic review of the available literature was conducted, in order to bring about a consolidated description of the literature on the impact of personality traits on Facebook self-presentation. From 37 studies, the review found the motivation for Facebook use to be a mediating factor in the relationship between personality traits. Each personality trait in the Five-factor model impacts upon Facebook use, self-generated content, other-generated content, and the nature of the individual’s self-disclosure in varied ways. Due to visible cues on users’ profiles, some personality traits can be accurately detected by observers. The complexity and interrelatedness of variables involved in this relationship is highlighted by the findings of this review.

Narcissism is increasingly being regarded as one of the biggest socio-cultural problems of the contemporary era. Indeed, recent studies by Baldwin and Stroman (2007) and Buffardi and Campbell (2008), among others, have advanced that new media technologies – in particular social networking websites – have significantly exacerbated the rise and spread of narcissism in contemporary society. Based on this premise, namely that social media provide the perfect platform for the promotion of self-infatuation, this research project will provide a critical analysis of the potential influence of social media in the development of a widespread narcissistic socio-cultural condition. In this regard, claims that increasingly consumerist, individualist and media-saturated societies are nurturing a culture of extreme narcissism, vanity and entitlement, will be examined in relation to an increase in the use of consumerorientated new media technologies. In particular, by examining the structural components of the popular social networking site, Facebook, this treatise will highlight the connection between the use of this form of new media and the engenderment of an acutely consumerist and narcissistic subjectivity – namely, commodity narcissism. That is, by examining the growth of narcissism from the 1940s through to the new millennium, the role of the media, and most recently new media technologies, in the promotion of commodity narcissism will be examined as factors of particular significance in the formation of contemporary subjectivity. In relation to this, the impact of commodity narcissism on the perpetuation and propagation of capitalist isolation, alienation and insecurity will be investigated with a view to exploring the potential impact of such narcissism on the efficacy of the democratic process. Finally, some remedial measures, which co-opt rather than negate such social media, will be proposed.

This study aimed to provide public relations professions with insight into the use of Social Customer Relationship Marketing as a marketing 2.0 tool which delivers the potential to elicit the opportunity for organisations to monitor, engage and manage conversations and relationships through Facebook. Drawing on literature from the fields such as new media, public relations, social customer relationship marketing, and public relations, a qualitative content analysis of case studies of selected organisations was conducted including 10 South African organisations that have incorporated Facebook into their Social Customer Relationship Marketing strategies. The content analysis was conducted to determine the amount of communications taking place on each fan page in order to support the data and provide additional insight into the research question, primary data was collected through two survey questionnaires of, firstly, social media users who subscribe to an organisation‘s Facebook page and, secondly, a survey conducted among the social organisations. Surveys were conducted to firstly determine the social organisations interactions with Facebook as secondly, to determine the social media users‘ interactions with the Facebook. The study found that the majority of the organisations under study in the content analysis successfully elicited user generated conversations about the brand, through content that was advocated by the organisations Facebook administrator. It is also evident as seen in the minority of organisations that these platforms are only likely to elicit consumer- driven dialogue on Facebook if the platform is managed effectively through initiated daily conversations about the brand. The continuous involvement by the administrator in encouraging conversations was necessary, as well as response to all wall posts by the social customer, participation in all conversations by providing accurate information to customers and potential customers about the brand. Conclusions from the survey questionnaires among the social identified the social customers need to be communicated with pro-actively by an organisations who can provide, through collaborative conversations, information pertaining to the brand in real time conversation, while the survey among the social organisation concluded the need for an organisation to not only create a social media footprint, but to allow for a space in which through conversation with the social customer, conversations can turn into relationships.

Orientadora: Rita Melissa Lepre / Banca: Maria Laura Nogueira Pires / Banca: Raul Aragão Martins / Banca: Antonio Francisco Marques / Banca: Luciane Guimarães Batistella Bianchini / Resumo: Os Sites de Redes Sociais são grandes dinamizadores do fluxo de informação e interconexões entre pessoas. Eles favorecem a construção e a produção de discursos que manifestam as múltiplas "verdades" sociais e suas representações. Além disso, são espaços complexos que estimulam o debate, geram ou desoprimem as tensões e, sobretudo, trazem os discursos sociais que refletem os valores e a moral de seus participantes. Nos Sites de Redes Sociais o ideal admitido é a liberdade e, portanto, os usuários tendem a avaliar e julgar a ação dos demais e vão além, aplicam sanções que bem entendem. O objetivo geral da pesquisa foi verificar e analisar como algumas questões relativas à moralidade apareceram nas publicações dos usuários e moldaram as suas ações dentro do Facebook. Temos como justificativa a necessidade de estudos que explorem a moralidade "virtual" dos participantes e apresentem programas e estratégias que promovam o uso consciente e responsável. Para tanto utilizamos como metodologia a netnografia. Ela consiste em uma pesquisa observacional participante, pois permite que o pesquisador adentre no universo que estuda por um determinado tempo, utilizando-se além das ferramentas próprias do Facebook, o diário de campo. Para cumprir com objetivos acessamos a plataforma diariamente durante o período de Junho de 2017 à Agosto de 2018, em busca de casos que causavam grande indignação nos usuários e eram as mais polêmicas da época. Além disso, elas deveriam tratar de questões... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Social Networking Sites are great dynamizers of the flow of information and interconnections between people. They favor a construction and production of discourses that manifest as multiple "truths" and their representations. In addition, they are spaces that stimulate debate, generate or unfavor the tendencies and, above, bring social discourses that reflect the values and a moral of its participants. In Social Networking Sites the ideal is freedom, and therefore users tend to evaluate and judge an action of others and go beyond the attention that is understood. The purpose of the research was identified and shown as some issues related to morality. Studies justifying studies that explore a "virtual" morality and participate in programs and strategies that promote conscious and responsible use. For such use as a netnography network. It consists of a participatory observational survey, because it allows you to search in a universe that has a fixed rhythm, using the own tools of Facebook, the field diary. The date in the case of annual data to 2017 June of 2018, in the case of the case in the case of big data in the users are the greater data in time. In addition, they can be moral issues, such as: justice, robberies, lies, cooperation, altruism. We know that the feeling of indignation comes when the spectator disapproves of an action that considers a moral good and; in itself a value, and therefore what must be done must also follow the same foundations. Not accompanying the... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

There has been much research conducted into the phenomenon of online social networking. However, there has not been enough research conducted to establish its affect on our overall communication patterns. This research study focuses on the way in which Facebook is redefining perceptions of public and private communication. Using the current body of research paired with a varied theoretical backing, this research establishes Facebook's affect on the communication of college students while also noting how the users affect the way this medium is used. Focus groups at a private University were conducted to establish current uses and perceptions of Facebook and how college students utilize the site to communicate. The research discovered that through Facebook, a new version of confessing one's thoughts has been established and intensified. Also, the research discovered that students had difficulty in defining their own versions of private and public information, but they understood that the line between the two is no longer distinct.

This study examined college student motivations for using social networking sites for educational purposes. Motives were examined through the uses and gratifications approach. If we can determine student motivations for using social networking sites, perhaps we can determine a way to successfully implement social networking sites into the classroom. By adding the concept of satisfaction, we can also determine if students will use the sites again. If students are satisfied with educational social networking site use, they will return to these sites for educational purposes again. Data was collected by giving a questionnaire to undergraduate students that assessed social networking site use, as well as motivations for and satisfaction with use. For general uses, students were motivated to use social networking sites for relationship maintenance, passing time, and information seeking purposes. Overall, students were satisfied with their use of the sites. For educational uses, students were motivated to use the sites for relationship maintenance and information seeking purposes. Overall, students are not satisfied with their use of these sites for educational purposes. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

M. Tech. Public Relations Management / The Internet and the emergence of social networking sites have brought about remarkable changes in the communication process, changing mass communication from a one-way to a two-way communication approach. Many countries around the world ranging from organisations to universities have embraced and adapted to the new phenomenon. Social networking sites present many opportunities such as connecting with consumers, soliciting feedback, bringing people together, as well as encouraging social networking and dialogue. Facebook is cited as one of the most popular social networking sites with increasing use by organisations and universities.

A research report submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the field of Digital Arts, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2016 / Facebook has become a part of over a billion people’s daily lives, but the mechanisms used by Facebook to keep people using its service may be playing off negative personality traits, one such being narcissism. Studies up to now have not looked at the design of the interface in relation to narcissism and whether or not Facebook is actively exploiting narcissism for its own ends. This study will analyse whether Facebook is deliberately designing an interface that exploits people’s narcissism by reviewing the current research on Facebook and narcissism and then doing a case study that will compare the 2008 interface with the 2015 interface. It will analyse how narcissism is involved in the persuasion strategies employed in each interface by using these four persuasion goals: 1. Create personal profile page 2. Invite friends 3. Respond to other’s contributions 4. Return to the site often The study will compare the features that use design for behavioural change and show whether or not Facebook is continuously designing features that exploit people’s narcissism. / GR2017