Sheldon

Year

2009

Aim

To investigate self-disclosure, social attraction, predictability

and trust as predictors of Facebook relationships.

Participants

243 undergraduate students (average age 20).

Method

Questionares

Results

The perception of attraction drives self-disclosure,

especially the number of topics discussed with the

person on Facebook.

– Increased disclosure was associated with higher

predictability (less uncertainty) about the person, which

in turn was associated with greater trust. This supports

the uncertainty reduction theory: the more

people talk with each other, the less uncertainty they

experience and they are able to like each other more.

Conclusion

Researchers conclude that in online communication between

Facebook friends people initially disclose to those they like.

This disclosure leads to being more certain about the friend’s

behaviour (predictability). Predictability increases trust, trust

increases likelihood of self-disclosure, and self-disclosure

increases liking