HYDERABAD: As if the detractors of social networking sites aren’t enough, there is now another study to add to the mix. Popular social networking site has often been criticised for encouraging narcissism in its users, but a new study has thrown up some interesting results.
According to the findings, shy and introvert people spend more time on Facebook but disclose little information with friends and acquaintances.
So while one user may post thousands of pictures on their profile, it’s the quiet ones who are logging in more time.
“While introverted or shy people use Facebook for longer periods, they spend less time uploading photos or posting to their friends’ walls,” explained Pavica Sheldon, an associate professor from the University of Alabama. Using the social networking by a shy person doesn’t have to mean that they post on it.
However, when it comes to greater control over how they present themselves, that part veers more towards extroverts. Extroverts benefit more by staying connected to friends and family with the help of video and picture uploads as well as frequent status updates, the study noted. “Narcissists like fame, they like to be seen. The more extrovert a person, the more number of posts you will see on their wall,” said Dr Sheldon.
The logic behind the study being the ‘rich get richer’ hypothesis’.
“Those users who are richer in their offline relationships will also benefit more from their use of Facebook. The more extroverted you are, the more you will benefit,” adds Dr Sheldon. Taking various factors into consideration, it’s the total time spent on Facebook which influences the decision when it comes to posting pictures. The more time a user has logged on the site, the more comfortable they become with photo posting.