Using Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development and Higgins’s self discrepancy theory, this report provides a framework for understanding adolescents’ use of social networking websites and the implications of such use for their identity development and subsequent well-being. Suggestions for working with adolescents and future research are outlined. / text

Research suggests older adults who remain socially active and cognitively engaged have better cognitive function than older adults who are socially isolated and disengaged. Using an online social networking website, like Facebook.com, may require simultaneous cognitive and social engagement, thus yielding improvements in both domains. This study aimed to examine the efficacy of learning and using Facebook as an intervention to maintain or enhance cognitive function in older adults. Results from a small pilot study with 7 older adults suggested there may be positive effects on executive functions and memory following learning and using Facebook. Therefore, a larger and more well-controlled examination of the intervention was completed. Participants were 41 older adults (12 male), with a mean age of 79.4 and 16.5 mean years of education. Participants were assigned to learn how to use Facebook (n = 14) or an online diary website (active control, n = 13), or they were placed on a waitlist (no treatment control, n = 14). Participants assigned to learn a website attended three 2-hour classes over the course of one week and then used the website at home daily for the next 7 weeks. Participants assigned to the waitlist received no contact for 8 weeks. All participants completed a series of neuropsychological tests and questionnaires on social and lifestyle factors before and after this 8-week period. Results showed that all participants were able to learn and use Facebook or an online diary website over an 8-week period. In addition, the Facebook group showed a significant increase in updating performance at post-test compared to no significant change in the control groups. Other composite measures of executive function, memory, and social support showed no differential improvement in the Facebook group across the 8-week interval. Thus, learning and using an online social networking site appeared to provide specific benefits for executive functions associated with working memory in a group of healthy older adults. This may reflect the particular cognitive demands associated with online social networking and/or the benefits of social engagement more generally.

This study explores teenager perceptions towards advertising in the online social networking environment. The future of online social networking sites is dependant upon the continued support of advertisers in this new medium, which is linked to the acceptance of advertising on these sites by their targeted audience. This exploratory study used the qualitative research methods of focus groups and in-depth personal interviews to gain insights from the teenager participants. The literature review in Chapter Two examined the previous research into advertising theories, consumer attitudes and issues such as advertising avoidance, advertising as a service and trust and privacy in the online social networking environment. The teenage consumer was also examined as were the influences of social identity theory. From this literature review eleven propositions were formed which provided a structure to the analysis of the research. Chapter Three outlined the multi-method research approach of using focus groups and in-depth interviews. The key findings were outlined in Chapter Four and Chapter Five provides discussion regarding these findings and the implications for theory and advertising practice. The main findings from this study suggest that teenagers have very high levels of advertising avoidance and are sceptical towards advertising on their online social networking sites. They have an inherent distrust of commercial messages in the online social networking environment; however they are extremely trusting with the information that they disclose online. They believe that if their site is classified as private, then the information disclosed on this site is not accessible to anyone. The study explores the reasons behind these views. This research has resulted in the identification of seven motivations behind online social networking use. A new model of advertising avoidance in the online social networking environment is also presented and discussed. This model makes a contribution towards filling the gap in available research on online social networking sites and advertising perception. The findings of this study have also resulted in the identification of the characteristics of online social networking sites as an advertising medium. The newness of online social networking sites coupled with the enthusiastic adoption of online social networking by the teenage demographic means that this exploratory study will be of interest to both academics and practitioners alike.

Purpose This study explores Social Capital Theory. For the benefit of the business community it examines the role of social networking sites (SNS) in the accumulation and management of social capital for Black women entrepreneurs. This research project explores whether social media and technology have enabled a previously disadvantaged minority group to overcome their obstacles, particularly the lack of access networks that offer value. Significant research has been done on academic Social Capital Theory, but what remains understudied is the link between social capital and social networking sites, especially for minority and indigenous groups in Africa. The research is also applicable to other minority groups globally - adding value to Social Capital Theory in the context of a growing interest in knowledge economies, entrepreneurship and technology. The study makes a contribution to academic research and has implications for both policy and practice. Methodology The research is exploratory in nature and therefore applies a qualitative research methodology. It applies in-depth interviews with Black women entrepreneurs from different industries, and age groups to extract quality data that is analysed against theoretical propositions derived from the literature. Findings Bridging and bonding social capital are unique in how they empower entrepreneurs. Black women are a minority group because of cultural and historical consequences. As a result women are more disadvantaged than men, and minority women are more disadvantaged than white women. Negative stereotypes prejudice Black women from getting equal access to opportunities and resources. SNS, which is geared to accumulating bridging social capital, has the ability to empower Black women entrepreneurs to overcome these challenges. However, instead of using SNS for building bridging social capital - more essential for business growth - Black women entrepreneurs tend to use SNS to deepen bonding social capital which yields support and motivation. The potential value in SNS use should encourage Black women entrepreneurs to invest more resources in learning how to optimise SNS. Although SNS and government empowerment policies are contributing to equalizing access and use of social capital between different genders and races, men and the White business community still have an advantage. Future studies should consider exploring how generation theory and various social-economic issues affect accumulation and use of social capital through SNS use for minority groups / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / zkgibs2014 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

M Phil / Since the establishment of the Internet, innovative technologies have evolved rapidly and 'social networking' technologies specifically have gained value from the recent surge in popularity and increased use of these networked technologies. The exposure and growth that social networking technologies have experienced in recent history has created a phenomenal following by individuals from diverse walks of life. However, the negative press that currently surrounds online social networks is ardent and in some cases valid, overshadowing the opportunities that Online Social Networking may present to organisations. The focus of this study fell on the possible effect of employee participation in Online Social Networking on productivity. In current workplaces that rely on intellectual capital to be successful in business, employees are a key source of knowledge and mainly responsible for intellectual capital growth. It was therefore argued in this study that organisations should critically investigate the relevance of collaborative technology such as online social networking in order to support employees in the processes required for knowledge creation. This study provided an overview of the literature review findings as well as the relevant empirical research findings with regard to what Online Social Networking entails; what the possible consequences could be if employees were allowed access to online social networks without restriction; and how online social networks could contribute to the productivity of an organisation. This study aimed to serve as a foundation on which the University of Johannesburg could build a strategy that aspired to incorporate online social networking within this institution, in order to promote a knowledge sharing culture.

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In this diploma thesis I explore the topic of publics on online social networking sites. I also focused on how the concept of publics affects how users behave and present themselves on online social networking sites, taking Facebook as an example. Identity management is an extensively researched area. However, less attention is paid to understanding the ways how users define their audience and how precise such a concept can actually be. In this thesis I set to understand how teenagers think and conceptualize different types of audiences they may encounter and how such imagined audience influences the way they use Facebook. Since this is a topic considerably difficult to think of let alone speak about, especially for young people, I chose projective techniques used in a focus group to overcome these obstacles. Using this method I tried to get answers on the research questions and obtain an insight as to how people imagine their audiences on online social networking sites, what are the most prominent types of users, and how it affects, in turn, their usage of Facebook. A similar type of research can be conducted also for other groups of online social networking sites users as well as for other online social networking sites. The next possible step can be a quantitative study assessing the stated...

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Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2017-04-17T10:45:20Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Natalia Semino.pdf: 2076339 bytes, checksum: 02885c5dac4a176611be793c129b3d60 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-17T10:45:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Natalia Semino.pdf: 2076339 bytes, checksum: 02885c5dac4a176611be793c129b3d60 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-07 / This qualitative research, of participant observation, seeks to understand through the use of Anthropology the unfolding of the subjectivity of rich women of the age of thirty to forty, who are users of online social networks and live in São Paulo. The research observed the use of online social networks and the unfolding of usage in daily life. Participants were identified using a snowball methodology, which resulted in the interview of nine women. Interviews took place over two to three meetings; two individual meetings and one in-group. During the first meeting a semi-structured interview technique was used. In the second meeting I requested a graphic production explaining the uses of online social networks, which made possible for a more focused conversation. The third meeting used a focus group technique and intended to broaden the understanding of the participants. The interviews were transcribed and the Content Analysis was used as data collection methodology. The results led us to understand that the use of online social networks on the one hand negatively impacts the subjectivity of women, because through the content consumed they absorb and structure patriarchal references, oppressive creativity as to the social roles played, (re) stigmatizing as beautiful, maternal, hard worked, happy and wives. On the other hand, recreational uses break with the ruthless lists of tasks that need to be performed, because despite the financial contribution, these women are charged for playing the roles previously mentioned, and surfing online social networks is an action that breaks this flow and contributes to greater gender equity. This would certainly be more functional if it were not for the kind of content that further strengthens the stigmas in the way they understand each other in the world / Esta pesquisa qualitativa, de observação participante, busca compreender através da Antropologia os desdobramentos na subjetividade de mulheres da elite paulistana, de trinta a quarenta anos, usuárias das redes sociais online. Observou-se as formas dos usos das redes sociais online e os desdobramentos de tais usos no cotidiano. Para o recrutamento foi utilizada a metodologia bola de neve, que resultou na entrevista de nove mulheres. Foram realizados de dois a três encontros, dois individuais e um em grupo quando as entrevistas indicadas já se conheciam. No primeiro encontro foi utilizada a técnica de entrevista semiestruturada. No segundo encontro foi solicitada uma produção gráfica que explicasse os usos das redes sociais online (este instrumento viabilizou uma conversa mais focada). O terceiro encontro estabeleceu a técnica de grupo focal e pretendeu observar a interação das mulheres tendo como assunto central as redes sócias online. As entrevistas foram transcritas e foi utilizado como metodologia de coleta de dados a Análise de Conteúdo. Os registros em diário das cenas cotidianas também contribuíram para as interpretações. Os resultados levaram a compreender que uso das redes sociais online por um lado impacta negativamente a subjetividade das mulheres, pois através dos conteúdos consumidos elas absorvem e estruturam referências patriarcais opressoras da criatividade quanto aos papéis sociais desempenhados, as (re) estigmatizando como belas, maternas, trabalhadoras, felizes e esposas. Por outro lado, os usos recreativos no cotidiano quebram com as impiedosas listas de tarefas a cumprir, pois apesar do aporte financeiro estas mulheres são cobradas a desempenhar os papeis anteriormente citados, e navegar nas redes sociais online é uma ação que quebra este fluxo e contribuiu para uma maior equidade de gênero. Isto certamente seria mais funcional se não fosse o tipo de conteúdo que reforça ainda mais os estigmas na maneira delas se compreenderem no mundo

Web 2.0 is loosely defined as a set of interactive and social online tools. This thesis distinguishes between the terms Internet and Web, explains the evolution of the Web towards the Web 2.0 and describes the fundamental parts of this platform. The following chapter examines the network effects, virtual communities and the reason to participate in the online environment. It also investigates the user typology and identifies some serious concerns associated with the current Web. The paper analyses the changes to the consumer environment and identifies the key areas of change. The findings are supported with online research.