Facebook as an Enabler of Social Inclusion - Research Paper Example

Title: Facebook as an enabler of social inclusion Name Name of Tutor Institution Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Abstract 3 1.0 Introduction 4 1.1 Facebook use in personal life 4 1.2 Facebook usage trends 5 2.0 Literature review 5 2.1 Concept of Social Inclusion 6 2.2 How Facebook has changed the way of life 7 2.3 Relating Facebook and social disadvantage 8 3.0 Research questions 8 3.2 Sub-research questions 9 4.0 Data analysis and interpretation 9 4.1 Data analysis 9 5.0 Discussion 11 6.0 Conclusion 12 7.0 References 13 Abstract This research paper examines how Facebook is considered as an enabler of social inclusion. The study is guided by one main research question and two sub-research questions. The main research question of this paper is ‘Is Facebook an effective social network platform enabling and promotion social cohesion? Sub-research questions are ‘Is there any relationship between social connection and Facebook friends?’ And, ‘Is there a relationship between the number of hours spent by an individual on Facebook and the construction of online social identity?’ Data has been presented to show that hours spent online influence the level of sociability. This may not be the case with the number of friends which have insignificant effect on the level of sociability. The findings of the study show that issues of common interest among individuals leads to building of online social identity. In conclusion, Facebook is currently changing the way of interaction on the society and is acting as a source of social capital. 1.0 Introduction Social media is growing into a real and influential tool that enables individuals, communities and organizations to engage and interact with whomever present in the digital context (Cheung, Chiu & Lee, 2011). Facebook in particular can substitute and encourage the passing of information and creativity across many cultures of the world thus nurturing communities and individuals into openness and transparency. Facebook experience has the ability to increase social inclusion and promote community interaction (Anacleto, 2011). It can explore spaces in social world which provide practical ways of engagement as well as empowering the society. Simple, in the contemporary society, most of the everyday activities are accessed by use of social networking platforms which help in empowering and creating independence which also improves health and wellbeing at individual level (Del Giudice, Della Peruta & Carayannis, 2013). 1.1 Facebook use in personal life At the personal level, human connectedness should never be substituted (Brandtz\aeg, L\"uders & Skjetne, 2010). However, for individuals who feel they are physically, emotionally or spiritually isolated, Facebook acts as an effective tool that perhaps improve contact between family and friends especially when they are geographically distanced (Keenan & Shiri, 2009). There is high probability of getting new friends especially when one shares either passion or interests. Facebook therefore seems to create a chain of connection in which basically, it will lead to social inclusion (Brandtz\aeg, L\"uders & Skjetne, 2010). The ability of persons to participate in social and economic contexts is currently seemed to be eased by Facebook (Li, 2012). Individuals are using Facebook to optimize their educational and wellbeing outcome-social capital (Steinfield, Ellison and Lampe, 2008). This often creates a relationship which is normally bonded by trust and social norms. Therefore, the platform increases individual access to information, skills and get included in the active groups of participants of the society (Langlois, Elmer, McKelvey & Devereaux, 2009). 1.2 Facebook usage trends Secondary data shows that about 17% of all time spent online in the world are Facebook related Valsamidis, Mandilas, Petasakis, and Caraman, 2012). Facebook has surpassed other social networks as Twitter, YouTube and Instagram in the time spent in accessing. Research shows that young population are more attracted to Facebook usage for interaction and sharing common interests (Lipschultz, 2014). This research paper therefore attempts to investigate how Facebook has enhanced social inclusion. Also, to what extent do individuals participate in Facebook? and, will this interaction further the benefits of personal use of social media in the society? 2.0 Literature review Many studies have been conducted to examine the role of social media in promoting social inclusion. However, few of the researchers have shed light on the Facebook as an enabler of social inclusion. The rate at which individuals are getting connected online is increasingly surprising. The study by Bargh and McKenna (2004) nevertheless offer the outlook of how social media and social inclusion for youths between the age of 20 and 29 is strongly catching-up. The sociability is an element to concentrate on since internet is currently enabled in most of the 21st century phones. Two researchers Antin and Churchill (2011) embraced how social media particularly Facebook has reinforce familial ties as well as interpersonal connections. Also, there was much attention on how social media facilitates inter-community and civic participation at individual level (Kraut, Brynin, and Kiesler, 2006). This remains to be a gap in psychology research that needs to be investigated. 2.1 Concept of Social Inclusion Nussbaum and Sen’s (1993) social inclusion framework focuses on individuals exhibiting capabilities that define free and real choices to engage and participate in the society. However, the research by Sen (2004) did not provide the specific capabilities than needs to be integrated in the society in order to promote and sustain social inclusion. Therefore, it is of great importance to exploit Sen’s research by examining how Facebook enables individuals to come together and build a relationship in the digital context. Based on Mark’s Weber ideas on economic capital for instance income and labour, these elements are the current measures that make people come together. Miliband (2006 p.56), categorized social inequality into three: extensive, concentrated and profound exclusion. Extensive exclusion referred to those people who are omitted from small indicators in the society (Bradbrook et al. 2007). Concentrated refer to those individuals who have geographical disadvantage when it comes to resource access. Profound exclusion is when individuals are omitted from overlapping dimensions in the society. Facebook has significantly changed the context of socialization regardless of where an individual falls in the three categories of social exclusion. For example, an active Facebook user can have up to 5000 friends from around the globe. An extrovert in this case can engage in a discussion of perhaps in Facebook pages. For instance, revolutions in Arab Spring 2011 were named as ‘Facebook Revolution since political activists as well as citizens used Facebook all over the globe to share information about the conditions in the Arab world (Baron, 2012). Therefore, examining the level of social inclusion that Facebook has enhanced is the aim of this study since most researchers investigated little on this. 2.2 How Facebook has changed the way of life Among other factors, Facebook is found to be a ‘preservative’ of culture where individuals can move in t in find the best environment to where he/she can interact without distress (Greenhow, 2011). The research by Boyd and Ellison (2007) shows that social media, Facebook being much prominent, facilitates a collective action where whoever interested to join in the contemporary society would learn and adapt to the fast movement of information at a cheaper cost. There seems to be powerful online influence from Facebook which has not been well examined by previous researchers on this topic. For example, social inclusion seems to go beyond close friends to all Facebook friends one has in his/her Facebook account. There is a sense of social connection depending on the shared interests by Facebook users (Baron, 2012). The research by Mathews (2010) found that individual engage in political activities through Facebook and they find themselves confortable in communicating their opinions and political concerns. Posting of pictures as well updating politically oriented views is part of political participation. The psychologists call this act social inclusion. There is a link between Facebook political participation. Considering this in terms of social inclusion, Valkenburg and Peter (2009) found that most of the young adults identified as to lie within the ‘risk bracket’ of social exclusion because of maybe drug abuse or illness, most of them were using online social networks to be part of the society. As a result, this provided an opportunity for them to be socially included in the society (Lu¨sted, 2012). The concern therefore is the driving factors towards using Facebook and therefore this research paper is aiming at examining this. 2.3 Relating Facebook and social disadvantage Digital resources as most could call in the current contemporary society are very important to individuals’ daily life. For example, the information about new brands released by a company needs to reach customer for effective interaction (Bradbook, Alvi and Thompson, 2007). Greenhow (2011) found that most people deprived socially are less likely to get digital useful resources. Survey conducted by Lu¨sted (2012) found that one for every ten count of adult population in the world are socially excluded and have severe social weaknesses. They are limited to engagement with the internet-based identity. Those who have a chance to participate in internet-based social activities sometimes have limited exposure. Therefore as far as social inclusion is concern, the capacity of exposure to Facebook seems to have a relative effect on enabling individuals to participate effectively in social activities (Antin, and Churchill, 2011). This paper examines the capacity of social recognition that Facebook has promoted in the current society. Facebook give the impression of being an effective platform where every individual irrespective of location, race, language or other cultural limitations can be socially included. 3.0 Research questions The following are three research questions that will guide the research study to be conducted: 3.1 Main research question Is Facebook an effective social network platform enabling and promotion social cohesion? Thesis statement: The number of activities individuals are engage in Facebook determines the extent of social inclusion of that particular individual. 3.2 Sub-research questions RQ 1. Is there any relationship between social connection and Facebook friends? Thesis statement: The number of Facebook friends and close friends is related to the sense of social cohesion. RQ 2. Is there a relationship between the number of hours spent by an individual on Facebook and the construction of online social identity? Thesis statement: Most of Facebook activities an individual is interested leads to complete participation. To examine social inclusion, this paper will use Jenson’s (1998) framework that elaborates five areas of social inclusion proposed. These areas include mutual values and identity, access to equal opportunities, engagement in systems, recognition and pluralism (Miliband, 2006) 4.0 Data analysis and interpretation 4.1 Data analysis Is sociability related to Facebook friends? Figure 1. Relationship between sociability and Facebook friends Facebook friends amy not necessarily contribute to effective social cohesion. From the above graph, the standard deviation is as low as 0.8 compared to mean which is 3.6. This implies that the two variables (sociability and friends) are not related in any way. However, if the two are associated, the impacts to the outcome is insignificant. The mode of the data stands at 4 irrespective of change in the number of friends an individual has. This shows that the number of friends a Facebook user has does not affect his/her sociability in any case. Media fall also at 4. This implies that there is not signiicant impact on sociability even if the there is an increase in Facebook friends. Is there a relationship between the number of hours spent by an individual on Facebook and the construction of online social identity? The graph below examines the relationship between the number of hours spent online and sociability. Figure 2. The relationship between sociability and hours spend online 5.0 Discussion Figure 2 above shows that socaiability depends on the number of hours spent online. An individual spending 1 hour onnline may not fully engage to the activities being presented on Facebook. However, he/she is most likely to have experience the activity to some point. Individuals spending betweeen 2 to three hours online are more likely to interact more compared to those spending only one hour. This time gives individuals period of chatting and perhaps getting to know issues within the social sphere they are placed. Individuals found to be spending upto 5 hours in online are considered to have strong social connections with others. Politcal activities for example may be keeping their time online as well as the infrmation from brand sellers. It is unexpected to see those spending upto 7 hours not socially connected. These are individuals that engage in online for only updates. They may not essentially share their interests and views but they are attracted by the interest of others on online platform (Valsamidis, Mandilas, Petasakis, and Caraman, 2012). The data retrieved showed that Facebook users interact across all age group of people and this reflects various types of social capital. Anyone on Facebook can interact with family friends and friends of friends. Having many Facebook friends leads to access of various types of social capital therefore there is a high possibility of interest sharing disruption. This is because there is a lot of social control instigated by the few. When it comes to social control, young aged individuals often use conformity when sharing their interest in order to maintain their privacy. Secondly, the data revealed that young aged individuals are faster in using Facebook content compared old aged (40 years and above) who are slow in understanding such as navigation around Facebook interface as well as managing privacy settings. It is also noted form the data that there is a widely held perception that Facebook perhaps may contribute to negative stereotypes which are harmful to social cohesion. This will affect social inclusion to some point especially when there are case of fraud and crimes done through Facebook. Facebook users may not consider having many friends in this case since they perceive online community to look like terrorist. 6.0 Conclusion This research paper focused on the use of Facebook by individuals as a platform of enabling social inclusion. The findings has revealed that many people in the current contemporary society are using Facebook among other social networks to agood advantage. Most of them have had big opportunity of developing social capital that could ensure benefits from employment, education, politics and economic avenues in the society. However, some people are exlcuded from the ‘digital world’ by either choice or by situations. Time spent by an individual online influence the sociability particularly when common interests are share on Facebook walls of friends. As a result, people would develop discussion that leads to many coming together and have common agenda. The number of friends one has may not necessarily define the sociability of an individual. It is important to know that Facebook interaction is compelled by a ‘cool’ factor where the rate of interaction depends on online social identity. Smartphones are used to be a symbol of socially cohesive society. Without this, one may feel socially excluded from others. 7.0 References Anacleto, J. (2011). Entertainment computing - ICEC 2011 (1st ed.). Berlin: Springer. Antin, J. and Churchill, E. (2011). Badges in social media: A social psychological perspective. Bargh, J. and McKenna, Y. (2004). The internet and social life. Annual Review of Psychology, 55(1), pp.475-501. Baron, L. (2012). More than a Facebook revolution: Social Movements and Social Media in the Egyptian Arab Spring. International Review of Information Ethics. Boyd, M. and Ellison, N. (2007). Social network sites: Definitions, history and scholarship. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communications, 13(2), pp.202-245. Bradbook, G., Alvi, L. and Thompson, V. (2007). Meeting their potential: the role of education and technology in overcoming disadvantage and disaffection in young people. 1st ed. London: Becta. Brandtz\aeg, P., L\"uders, M., & Skjetne, J. (2010). Too many Facebook “friends”? Content sharing and sociability versus the need for privacy in social network sites. Intl. Journal Of Human--Computer Interaction, 26(11-12), 1006--1030. Cheung, C., Chiu, P., & Lee, M. (2011). Online social networks: Why do students use facebook?.Computers In Human Behavior, 27(4), 1337--1343. Cohen, E. (2000). Multi-dimensional analysis of international social indicators--education, economy, media and demography. Social Indicators Research, 50(1), pp.83--106. Del Giudice, M., Della Peruta, M., & Carayannis, E. (2013). Social media and emerging economies (1st ed.). Cham: Springer. Greenhow, C. (2011). Youth, learning, and social media. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 45(2), pp.139--146. Keenan, A., & Shiri, A. (2009). Sociability and social interaction on social networking websites.Library Review, 58(6), 438--450. Kraut, R., Brynin, M. and Kiesler, S. (2006). Computers, phones, and the Internet. 1st ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Langlois, G., Elmer, G., McKelvey, F., & Devereaux, Z. (2009). Networked publics: The double articulation of code and politics on Facebook. Canadian Journal Of Communication, 34(3). Li, H. (2012). Virtual community participation and motivation (1st ed.). Hershey, Pa.: IGI Global (701 E. Chocolate Avenue, Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033, USA). Lipschultz, J. (2014). Social Media Communication. 1st ed. New York: Routledge. Lu¨sted, M. (2012). Mark Zuckerberg. 1st ed. Edina, Minn.: ABDO Pub. Company. Mathews, R. (2010). The social and psychological impact of online social networking:[2010 National Psychology Week research project.]. In-Psych, 32(6), p.36. Miliband, D. (2006). Social exclusion: The nexts steps forward. 1st ed. London: ODPM. Nussbaum, M. and Sen, A. (1993). The Quality of life. 1st ed. Oxford [England]: Clarendon Press. Sen, A. (2004). Capabilities, lists, and public reason: continuing the conversation. Feminist economics, 10(3), pp.77--80. Steinfield, C., Ellison, N. and Lampe, C. (2008). Social capital, self-esteem, and use of online social network sites: A longitudinal analysis. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 29(6), pp.434--445. Valkenburg, P. and Peter, J. (2009). Social consequences of the internet for adolescents a decade of research. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 18(1), pp.1--5. Valsamidis, S., Mandilas, A., Petasakis, I. And Caraman, E. (2012). Internet Addiction In Balkan And South-Eastern European Countries. Scientific Bulletin-Economic Sciences, 11(2), pp.68--81. Read More

1.2 Facebook usage trends Secondary data shows that about 17% of all time spent online in the world are Facebook related Valsamidis, Mandilas, Petasakis, and Caraman, 2012). Facebook has surpassed other social networks as Twitter, YouTube and Instagram in the time spent in accessing. Research shows that young population are more attracted to Facebook usage for interaction and sharing common interests (Lipschultz, 2014). This research paper therefore attempts to investigate how Facebook has enhanced social inclusion.

Also, to what extent do individuals participate in Facebook? and, will this interaction further the benefits of personal use of social media in the society? 2.0 Literature review Many studies have been conducted to examine the role of social media in promoting social inclusion. However, few of the researchers have shed light on the Facebook as an enabler of social inclusion. The rate at which individuals are getting connected online is increasingly surprising. The study by Bargh and McKenna (2004) nevertheless offer the outlook of how social media and social inclusion for youths between the age of 20 and 29 is strongly catching-up.

The sociability is an element to concentrate on since internet is currently enabled in most of the 21st century phones. Two researchers Antin and Churchill (2011) embraced how social media particularly Facebook has reinforce familial ties as well as interpersonal connections. Also, there was much attention on how social media facilitates inter-community and civic participation at individual level (Kraut, Brynin, and Kiesler, 2006). This remains to be a gap in psychology research that needs to be investigated. 2.1 Concept of Social Inclusion Nussbaum and Sen’s (1993) social inclusion framework focuses on individuals exhibiting capabilities that define free and real choices to engage and participate in the society.

However, the research by Sen (2004) did not provide the specific capabilities than needs to be integrated in the society in order to promote and sustain social inclusion. Therefore, it is of great importance to exploit Sen’s research by examining how Facebook enables individuals to come together and build a relationship in the digital context. Based on Mark’s Weber ideas on economic capital for instance income and labour, these elements are the current measures that make people come together.

Miliband (2006 p.56), categorized social inequality into three: extensive, concentrated and profound exclusion. Extensive exclusion referred to those people who are omitted from small indicators in the society (Bradbrook et al. 2007). Concentrated refer to those individuals who have geographical disadvantage when it comes to resource access. Profound exclusion is when individuals are omitted from overlapping dimensions in the society. Facebook has significantly changed the context of socialization regardless of where an individual falls in the three categories of social exclusion.

For example, an active Facebook user can have up to 5000 friends from around the globe. An extrovert in this case can engage in a discussion of perhaps in Facebook pages. For instance, revolutions in Arab Spring 2011 were named as ‘Facebook Revolution since political activists as well as citizens used Facebook all over the globe to share information about the conditions in the Arab world (Baron, 2012). Therefore, examining the level of social inclusion that Facebook has enhanced is the aim of this study since most researchers investigated little on this. 2.2 How Facebook has changed the way of life Among other factors, Facebook is found to be a ‘preservative’ of culture where individuals can move in t in find the best environment to where he/she can interact without distress (Greenhow, 2011).

The research by Boyd and Ellison (2007) shows that social media, Facebook being much prominent, facilitates a collective action where whoever interested to join in the contemporary society would learn and adapt to the fast movement of information at a cheaper cost.

Read More