Snapchat vs. Instagram: Social Network Sites and Self-Disclosure Differences Before and After Use
Keywords:
SNS, Self-Disclosure, Snapchat, InstagramAbstract
Every year, the number of social media users grows and so too does the use of different platforms. Scholarship continues to examine the impacts these platforms have on users’ behaviors and thought processes. This study examined the impacts social media usage has on one’s self-disclosure behaviors after using different platforms. As much scholarship has focused on Facebook and Twitter, this study attempted to bridge the gap in knowledge by examining the impacts of Instagram versus Snapchat, two platforms with different types of networks. Utilizing an experiment, participants were asked to interact with their respective social media platforms. Results showed that when using a more closed-network like Snapchat, users became more intentional in their sharing behaviors, whereas when using an open-network like Instagram, users became less likely to disclose information. Implications for theory and society are discussed.
References
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Piwek, L., & Joinson, A. (2016). “What do they snapchat about?” Patterns of use in time-limited instant messaging service. Computers in Human Behavior, 54, 358-367.
Sheldon, P., & Bryant, K. (2016). Instagram: Motives for its use and relationship to narcissism and contextual age. Computers in Human Behavior, 58, 89-97.
Utz, S. (2011). Social network site use among Dutch students: Effects of time and platform. In F. Comunello (Ed.), Networked sociability and individualism. Technology for personal and professional relationships (pp. 103-125). Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Utz, S. (2015). The function of self-disclosure on social network sites: Not only intimate, but also positive and entertaining self-disclosures increase the feeling of connection. Computers in Human Behavior, 45, 1-10.
Utz, S., & Krämer, N.C. (2009). The privacy paradox on social network sites revisited: The role of individual characteristics and group norms. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research,3(2), Retrieved from: http://cyberpsychology.eu/article/view/4223/3265
Utz, S., Muscanell, N., & Khalid, C. (2015). Snapchat elicits more jealousy than Facebook: A comparison of Snapchat and Facebook use. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 18(3), 141-146.
Waddell, T.F. (2016). The allure of privacy or the desire for self-expression? Identifying users’ gratifications for ephemeral, photograph-based communication. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 19(7), 441-445.
Wheeless, L.R., & Grotz, J. (1976). Conceptualization and measurement of reported self-disclosure. Human Communication Research, 2(4), 338-346.
Wheeless, L.R., & Grotz, J. (1977). The measurement of trust and its relationship to self-disclosure. Human Communication Research, 3(3), 250-257.
Archer J.L. (1980). Self-disclosure. In: D. Wegner & R. Vallacher (Eds.), The self in social Psychology, London, UK: Oxford University Press.
Bayer, J.B., Ellison, N.B., Schoenebeck, S.Y., & Falk, E.B. (2016). Sharing the small moments: Ephemeral social interaction on Snapchat. Information, Communication & Society, 19(7), 956-977.
Bazarova, N.N., & Choi, Y. (2014). Self-disclosure in social media: Extending the functional approach to disclosure motivations and characteristics on social network sites. Journal of Communication, 64(1), 635-657.
Berger, C.R., & Calabrese, R.J. (1975). Some explorations in initial interaction and beyond: Towards a development theory of interpersonal communication. Human Communication Research, 1, 99-112.
Chen, B., & Marcus, J. (2012). Students’ self-presentation on Facebook: An examination of personality and self-construal factors. Computers in Human Behavior, 28, 2091-2099.
Chen, H.T., & Li, X. (2017). The contribution of mobile social media to social capital and psychological well-being: Examining the role of communicative use, friending and self-disclosure. Computers in Human Behavior, 75, 958-965.
Choi, Y., & Bazarova, N.N. (2014). Self-disclosure characteristics and motivations in social media: Extending the functional model to multiple social network sites. Human Communication Research, 41(4), 480-500.
Collins, N.L., & Miller, L.C. (1994). Self-disclosure and liking: A meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin, 116(3), 457-475.
Christofides, E., Muise, A., & Desmarais, S. (2012). Hey mom, what’s on your Facebook? Comparing Facebook disclosure and privacy in adolescents and adults. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 3(1), 48-54.
Derlega, V.J., Winstead, B.A., Wong, P.T.P., & Greenspan, M. (1987). Self-disclosure and relationship development: An attributional analysis. In M.E. Roloff & G.R. Miller (Eds.), Sage annual reviews of communication research, Vol. 14. Interpersonal process: New dirctions in communication research (pp. 172-187). Thousand Oaks, CA, US: Sage Publications, Inc.
Greene, K., Derlega, V.j., & Mattews, A. (2006). Self-disclosure in personal relationships. In A.L. Vangelisti & D. Pearlman (Eds.), The Cambridge handbook of personal relationships. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
Jiang, L.C., Bazarova, N.N., & Hancock, J.T. (2010). The disclosure-intimacy link in computer-mediated communication: An attributional extension of the hyperpersonal model. Human Communication Research, 37, 58-77.
Kim, J., & Lee, J. (2011). The Facebook paths to happiness: Effects of the number of Facebook friends and self-presentation on subjective well-being. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 14(6), 359-364.
Kim, D.H., Seely, N.K., & Jung, J.H. (2017). Do you prefer, Pinterest or Instagram? The role of image-sharing SNSs and self-monitoring in enhancing ad effectiveness. Computers in Human Behavior, 70 533-543.
Larzelere, R.E., & Huston, T.L. (1980). The dyadic trust scale: Toward understanding interpersonal trust in close relationships. Journal of Marriage and Family, 42(3), 595-604.
Ledbetter, A.M., Mazer, J.P., & DeGroot, J.M., Meyer, K.R., Mao, Y., Swafford, B. (2011). Attitudes toward online social connection and self-disclosure as predictors of Facebook communication and relational closeness. Communication Research, 38(1), 27-53.
Lee, E., Lee, J.A., Moon, J.H, & Sung, Y. (2015). Pictures Speak Louder than Words: Motivations for using Instagram. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking 18(9), 552-56.
Lemay, D.J., Doleck, T., & Bazelais, P. (2017). “Passion and concern for privacy” as factors affecting snapchat use: A situated perspective on technology acceptance. Computers in Human Behavior, 75, 264-271.
Levinger, G., & Snoek, J.D. (1972). Attraction in relationship: A new look at interpersonal attraction., Morristown, NJ, US: General Learning Press75, 264-271.
O’Sullivan, P.B. (2005, May). Masspersonal communication: Rethinking the mass interpersonal divide. Paper presented at the 55th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association, New York, NY.
Ong, T. (2018, January 30). Snapchat takes Bitmoji deluxe with hundreds of new customization options. The Verge. Retrieved from: http://www.theverge.com/2018/1/30/16949402/bitmoji-deluxe-snapchat-customization
Ouirdi, A.E., Ouirdi, M.E., Segers, J., & Henderickx, E. (2015). Employees’ use of social media technologies: a methodological and thematic review. Behavioral & Information Technology, 34(5), 454-464.
Pew Center Research Group. (2018). Social media use in 2018: A majority of Americans use Facebook and YouTube, but young adults are especially heavy users of Snapchat and Instagram. Retrieved from: http://www.pewinternet.org/2018/03/01/social-media-use-in-2018/
Pittman, M., & Reich, B. (2016). Social media and loneliness: Why an Instagram picture may be worth more than a thousand Twitter words. Computers in Human Behavior, 62, 155-167.
Piwek, L., & Joinson, A. (2016). “What do they snapchat about?” Patterns of use in time-limited instant messaging service. Computers in Human Behavior, 54, 358-367.
Sheldon, P., & Bryant, K. (2016). Instagram: Motives for its use and relationship to narcissism and contextual age. Computers in Human Behavior, 58, 89-97.
Utz, S. (2011). Social network site use among Dutch students: Effects of time and platform. In F. Comunello (Ed.), Networked sociability and individualism. Technology for personal and professional relationships (pp. 103-125). Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Utz, S. (2015). The function of self-disclosure on social network sites: Not only intimate, but also positive and entertaining self-disclosures increase the feeling of connection. Computers in Human Behavior, 45, 1-10.
Utz, S., & Krämer, N.C. (2009). The privacy paradox on social network sites revisited: The role of individual characteristics and group norms. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research,3(2), Retrieved from: http://cyberpsychology.eu/article/view/4223/3265
Utz, S., Muscanell, N., & Khalid, C. (2015). Snapchat elicits more jealousy than Facebook: A comparison of Snapchat and Facebook use. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 18(3), 141-146.
Waddell, T.F. (2016). The allure of privacy or the desire for self-expression? Identifying users’ gratifications for ephemeral, photograph-based communication. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 19(7), 441-445.
Wheeless, L.R., & Grotz, J. (1976). Conceptualization and measurement of reported self-disclosure. Human Communication Research, 2(4), 338-346.
Wheeless, L.R., & Grotz, J. (1977). The measurement of trust and its relationship to self-disclosure. Human Communication Research, 3(3), 250-257.
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