Anonymous and Non-anonymous User Behavior on Social Media: A Case Study of Jodel and Instagram
Anonymity plays an increasingly important role on social media. This is reflected by more and more applications enabling anonymous interactions. However, do social media users behave different when they are anonymous? In our research, we investigated social media services meant for solely anonymous...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information
2018-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ocean.kisti.re.kr/downfile/volume/kistiisc/E1JSCH/2018/v6n3/E1JSCH_2018_v6n3_25.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818943616562757632 |
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| author | Kasakowskij, Regina Friedrich, Natalie Fietkiewicz, Kaja J. Stock, Wolfgang G. |
| author_facet | Kasakowskij, Regina Friedrich, Natalie Fietkiewicz, Kaja J. Stock, Wolfgang G. |
| author_sort | Kasakowskij, Regina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Anonymity plays an increasingly important role on social media. This is reflected by more and more applications enabling anonymous interactions. However, do social media users behave different when they are anonymous? In our research, we investigated social media services meant for solely anonymous use (Jodel) and for widely spread non-anonymous sharing of pictures and videos (Instagram). This study examines the impact of anonymity on the behavior of users on Jodel compared to their non-anonymous use of Instagram as well as the differences between the user types: producer, consumer, and participant. Our approach is based on the uses and gratifications theory (U>) by E. Katz, specifically on the sought gratifications (motivations) of self-presentation, information, socialization, and entertainment. Since Jodel is mostly used in Germany, we developed an online survey in German. The questions addressed the three different user types and were subdivided according to the four motivation categories of the U>. In total 664 test persons completed the questionnaire. The results show that anonymity indeed influences users' usage behavior depending on user types and different U> categories. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T07:30:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7daffcee48f64eb4946d8a5154df920b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2287-9099 2287-4577 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T07:30:10Z |
| publishDate | 2018-09-01 |
| publisher | Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-7daffcee48f64eb4946d8a5154df920b2022-12-21T19:48:27ZengKorea Institute of Science and Technology InformationJournal of Information Science Theory and Practice2287-90992287-45772018-09-01632536https://doi.org/10.1633/JISTaP.2018.6.3.3Anonymous and Non-anonymous User Behavior on Social Media: A Case Study of Jodel and InstagramKasakowskij, Regina0Friedrich, Natalie1Fietkiewicz, Kaja J.2Stock, Wolfgang G.3Department of Information Science, Heinrich Heine University DusseldorfDepartment of Information Science, Heinrich Heine University DusseldorfDepartment of Information Science, Heinrich Heine University DusseldorfDepartment of Information Science, Heinrich Heine University DusseldorfAnonymity plays an increasingly important role on social media. This is reflected by more and more applications enabling anonymous interactions. However, do social media users behave different when they are anonymous? In our research, we investigated social media services meant for solely anonymous use (Jodel) and for widely spread non-anonymous sharing of pictures and videos (Instagram). This study examines the impact of anonymity on the behavior of users on Jodel compared to their non-anonymous use of Instagram as well as the differences between the user types: producer, consumer, and participant. Our approach is based on the uses and gratifications theory (U>) by E. Katz, specifically on the sought gratifications (motivations) of self-presentation, information, socialization, and entertainment. Since Jodel is mostly used in Germany, we developed an online survey in German. The questions addressed the three different user types and were subdivided according to the four motivation categories of the U>. In total 664 test persons completed the questionnaire. The results show that anonymity indeed influences users' usage behavior depending on user types and different U> categories.http://ocean.kisti.re.kr/downfile/volume/kistiisc/E1JSCH/2018/v6n3/E1JSCH_2018_v6n3_25.pdfuser behavioranonymitysocial mediauses and gratifications theoryidentifiabilityuser roles |
| spellingShingle | Kasakowskij, Regina Friedrich, Natalie Fietkiewicz, Kaja J. Stock, Wolfgang G. Anonymous and Non-anonymous User Behavior on Social Media: A Case Study of Jodel and Instagram Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice user behavior anonymity social media uses and gratifications theory identifiability user roles |
| title | Anonymous and Non-anonymous User Behavior on Social Media: A Case Study of Jodel and Instagram |
| title_full | Anonymous and Non-anonymous User Behavior on Social Media: A Case Study of Jodel and Instagram |
| title_fullStr | Anonymous and Non-anonymous User Behavior on Social Media: A Case Study of Jodel and Instagram |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anonymous and Non-anonymous User Behavior on Social Media: A Case Study of Jodel and Instagram |
| title_short | Anonymous and Non-anonymous User Behavior on Social Media: A Case Study of Jodel and Instagram |
| title_sort | anonymous and non anonymous user behavior on social media a case study of jodel and instagram |
| topic | user behavior anonymity social media uses and gratifications theory identifiability user roles |
| url | http://ocean.kisti.re.kr/downfile/volume/kistiisc/E1JSCH/2018/v6n3/E1JSCH_2018_v6n3_25.pdf |
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