“Everybody’s on Facebook … regardless of race or ethnicity,” Roylyn Young, communication disorders junior, said.
Well, not quite everyone.
New research published on Nov. 20 from Northwestern University shows race, ethnicity and education can predict what social networking Web site people use. This also proves that online networking can be isolated and people may not use the sites to meet people from all types of backgrounds.
MySpace.com made its debut in late 2003. Facebook.com followed closely in 2004. The unbridled popularity of these and other social networking sites has changed the way many people are able to relate to one another.
The research diffuses the notion that these sites allow people to interact from all parts of the world and from all backgrounds.
“I don’t meet people on Facebook or Orkut.com – I stay in contact with my acquaintances,” Arpan Seth, chemical engineering junior, said.
The researchers polled 1,060 freshmen from the University of Illinois, Chicago, which was rated in the top 10 most diverse schools in 2006 by the U.S. News & World Report. The research was led by Eszter Hargittai, author of “Whose Space? Differences Among Users and Non-Users of Social Network Sites.”
In the poll, students were asked about their interaction with six different social networking sites including Facebook, Bebo.com, Orkut, Friendster.com, Xanga.com and MySpace. Only one student claimed to never have heard of any of the six.
Northwestern’s findings, published in the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, found that Facebook users were white or Asian American students whose parents had a college degree. Asian American students were also very likely to use Xanga and Friendster.
The most likely MySpace users were Hispanic students whose parents were less likely to have college experience. White students use of MySpace was a close second to their use of Facebook.
The study did not find any conclusive evidence for black students.
The reasons why certain groups chose certain networks are unclear in the study. It cites several different reasons and also notes that more qualitative studies need to be conducted to draw any specific conclusions.
Some LSU students attributed choice of social networks to other factors.
“I think it’s based on how my friends and family are choosing a network and the purpose of why I’m there – business or just for fun,” Ravindra Gudishala, civil engineering graduate student said.
Jacki Moothart, dietetics senior, said she chose her social networks at her friends’ urging. She has both a Facebook and a MySpace, but only keeps the MySpace “because a couple of friends still have it.”
Chris White, economics and mathematics senior, said he chose Facebook because “all my friends were doing it and the design is better.”
“I don’t think people chose them because of background. It’s mostly what their friends are using,” Danielle Hardy, general studies freshman, said.
Young also disputed the research, saying that on Facebook, she sees “people from all backgrounds – it’s a wider range.”
The reason a person of a certain race may chose a social network might have more to do with who his or her friends are.
“I don’t think it’s race. It is who you associate with and 9 times out of 10 your friends are going to be of the same race,” Lynette Orange, psychology senior, said.
For others the choice may be a cultural preference.
“My personal preference may be varied from other Asians but with MySpace you can personalize it and Asians aren’t that flashy,” Peter Hoang, finance sophomore, said.
And for some students, the choice may be lost in translation.
“I’m from China, and I know in my country many people have a MSN Spaces,” Xiawei Tong, chemistry graduate student, said. “I see mostly people who are Chinese because we use Chinese symbols to write.”
—Ellen Fargason at [email protected]