The document summarizes a qualitative study that examined how social networking sites like Facebook have impacted notions of friendship. It describes the research question, methodology including an online focus group of 8 participants, and results. Key findings were that SNS have modified the meaning of "friend" and blurred relationships, interactions online can be less personal than offline, and SNS make it easier to connect with distant friends but maintaining contact relies on effort of individuals. The study confirmed the hypothesis that friendship has taken on new dimensions with SNS.

1. Friendship and Facebook
A Qualitative Study of Social Networking
Sites and the Notion of Friendship

2. Research Question
• RQ: Has „Friendship‟ taken on new dimensions
with the introduction of Facebook and other
SNS?
▫ Popularity of new media
▫ Changes in communication
▫ Definition of „friend‟
 Offline friends/online friends/new friendships
• H1: Friendship has taken on new dimensions
with the introduction of Facebook and other
SNS

3. Methodology
• Online Focus Group
▫ Participants
▫ Data Collection
▫ Moderation

4. Participants
• Conducted on Facebook
• 8 Participants
• Addressed as Participant 1, Participant 2, etc.
• Incentive: Participation marks in class
• Screening questions

5. Screening Question Information
• Distributed via hyperlink to SurveyMonkey
• Balanced gender ratio
• Age: 20-22
• They all used SNS
• Daily usage
• Majority accessed via phone

6. Data Collection
• 7 day discussion period
• 1-3 Questions per day
• Questions posed by noon or earlier daily;
responses required by 7:30pm

7. Moderation
• Moderator: Krystle Valliere
• Process: Discussion management and question
explanations

8. Results
• Question Themes:
▫ Blurring of SNS Relationships
▫ Synthetic Friendships and Identity
▫ Interaction and Communication
▫ Geography and Maintenance

9. 1.0 Blurring of SNS Relationships
• Definition of Friendship
▫ 1.2 With your definition of “friend” in mind, do you
feel that SNS such as Facebook have modified the
meaning of the term?
• “I believe a friend...you have fun with, and friendship is something you have to
build, so to speak. More than that though, they're someone you trust to a degree,
who you share a mutual respect with…And I feel like you have to learn about a lot
about who they are…before developing that necessary respect and trust. As such
that isn‟t compatible with social networking friends. I think while it is harder to
develop trust online, and certainly mutual respect, but…online friends shouldn‟t be
discredited entirely.”

10. 2.O Synthetic Friendships and Identity
• Misrepresentation/ Fake identities
▫ 2.3 Do you feel that friendships on SNS are more
beneficial (you feel like there is more of a relationship)
than real offline friendships? Why or Why not?
▫ 2.4 What is your opinion on people including your
friends misrepresenting themselves on SNS by creating
fake identities?
• Face-to-face contact essential to friendships
• Catfish (Joost & Schulman, 2010)

11. 3.0 Interaction and Communication
• Nature of online relationships
▫ 3.1 Do you feel that communicating with friends you have met
online is easier than talking with friends you talk to face to face?
Why or Why not?
▫ 3.3 Are online relationships less personal than traditional
relationships, due to the nature of the communication medium?
Personally, I feel that a lot of conversations on SNS in
particular can be pretty dull. Writing "Hi," or, "How're
you doing?" on someone's wall seems to act as some sort
of a life-support machine for a relationship and, in turn,
kind of trivializes it.

12. 4.0 Geography and Maintenance
• Friends Near and Far
▫ 4.2 How do you think SNS contributes to the strengthening and
weakening of both online and offline friendships?
▫ 4.3 Would you say that your geographical location has an effect
on how you create and maintain online friendships?
“SNS definitely makes it easier to get in contact with old friends, but what
happens from there is really up to the individuals. A "hello" or two may be
sent but communication may eventually taper off since it's very possible
that the individuals have 'moved on.' But yes, in general, it's easier to
communicate with friends that live in different locations via SNS.”

13. Group Dynamics
• Confident participants
• Early posts seemed to influence discussion

14. 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
27
13
21
17
15
11
9
NumberofResponses
Day of the Week
Daily Discussion Activity

15. 10%
15%
14%
10%
8%
15%
15%
13%
Group Participation
Participant 1
Participant 2
Participant 3
Participant 4
Participant 5
Participant 6
Participant 7
Participant 8

16. Limitations
• Posting time
• Word Choice
• Question 2.1
• Response Format

17. Further Research
• Skype/Online Gaming
▫ Features several prominent similarities to SNS
such as Facebook (ability to chat, view profiles and
interact with “friends” or “contacts”)
▫ Viewed in an entirely different light by
participants
▫ Lends to interesting discussion about what is a
social networking tool
▫ Differences in mediums (Skype)

18. Conclusions
• After examination, hypothesis was confirmed
• The internet is a tool which can be used to aid or
hinder in the maintenance of a relationship
• The use of SNS as a tool for interaction has
changed the nature of “friendship”