The effect of Facebook self-disclosure on the reduction of uncertainty, liking and social attractiveness

Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati utjecaj samootkrivanja na Facebooku na smanjenje nesigurnosti, sviđanje i socijalnu atraktivnost prilikom inicijalnog kontakta. Istraživanje je provedeno na uzorku od 196 studenata) u dobi od 18 do 25 godina koji su bili raspoređeni u tri eksperimentalne situacije. Svaka situacija razlikovala se po razini samootkrivanja na Facebook profilu (niska, srednja, visoka). Sudionici su procjene vlastite nesigurnosti, sviđanja i socijalne atraktivnosti prezentirane osobe izvršavali na Skali opće nesigurnosti, Skali sviđanja, Skali interpersonalne privlačnosti- subskala Socijalne atraktivnosti te su ispunili i upitniku o njihovim sociodemografskim podacima. Korelacije između ispitivanih varijabli nisu se pokazale statistički značajnima. Složenom analizom varijance utvrđeno je da ne postoji efekt individualnih faktora, razina samootkrivanja i spola procjenjivača, ali je dobivena njihova statistički značajna interakcija u slučaju procjene nesigurnosti koju izaziva prezentirana osoba te razine sviđanja. Prema dobivenim rezultatima žene pokazuju manju razinu nesigurnosti i višu razinu sviđanja u situaciji većeg samootkrivanja prezentirane ženske osobe nego muškarci.The aim of this study was to examine the effects of self-disclosure via Facebook on uncertainty reduction, liking and social attraction in initial interaction. The sample consisted of 196 students (M = 96, F = 100) ranging from 18 to 25 years. They were divided into three experimental situations differing by the level of self-disclosure on Facebook profile (low, medium, high). Participants completed a survey reporting their levels of uncertainty, liking and social attraction while making judgements about presented person on General uncertainty scale, Likability Scale and Interpersonal Attraction Scale- subscale Social attraction. They, also, filled out sociodemografic questionnare about themselves. No significant association between examined variables were found. The results of MANOVA indicated that there is no univariate main effects for self-disclosure level and percievers gender, but significant interaction effect for the level of uncertainty and liking evoked by the presented person. Results showed that women had lower levels of uncertainty and higher levels of liking in the situation of high level of self disclosure on female Facebook profile than male