The one who talks about their favorite shows. The one who shows passion for their football team. The one who posts vacation photos from 2003. The one trying to save the red-tailed Thai macaw. The one who loves politics. The one who hates politics. The one who shares quotes from famous people without checking their origin. The gym addict. Facebook seems full of users with very different personalities, yet a recent study published in the International Journal of Virtual Communities and Social Networking suggests that the types of users on Facebook are only four.
Facebook can be many things. A communication tool, a place to distract oneself, a space for exchange, a source of depression, a toxic environment. The social network has changed a lot, and not necessarily for the better, but at the end of the day everything depends on the users. In some cases, a contact's thoughts are so different from ours that we wonder how they ever made it onto the list in the first place, while in others they aren't even thoughts: the simple content they post bothers us.
The result comes from a survey in which 47 people participated, a small number at first glance, but more than enough due to the application of the so-called 'Q methodology', developed by psychologist William Stephenson in 1935. Those 47 participants (American adults aged 18 to 32) answered a survey made up of 48 statements, indicating how identified they felt with each one.
The Four Types of Facebook Users
- Relationship Builder – someone who uses Facebook as an extension of their offline life to reinforce their relationships with friends and family. The social network is not a multinational and multicultural zone, but a personal space that allows them to stay in contact.
- Window Shopper – the voyeur, who largely consumes others' content but rarely posts anything about themselves. They are also frugal with comments and likes. Facebook is basically a social obligation, nothing more.
- Town Crier – as the name suggests, it is a communication machine. Activists, politicians, and organizers fall into this type. They share everything they think is necessary regardless of whether it is pleasant or not, and even if it is true or not. They are the improvised journalists, those who upload videos with local events, criticisms, and scandals. Facebook is a virtual microphone or a 'safe space' for them, but do not waste time waiting for them to post any personal details.
- Selfies – Narcissus with a smartphone. The selfie is the center of their own profile, and they seek approval from others through comments and likes. An image saved on the phone does nothing, and the Selfie prefers to post it so it generates something.
The details of the study are interesting, but one thing is certain: We are all different in real life.
Source: Quartz
Access the study: IGI Global
