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A comparison of Facebook and Instagram concerning emotions regarding, and identification with an automatically generated autobiography.

Klink, Deborah (2019) A comparison of Facebook and Instagram concerning emotions regarding, and identification with an automatically generated autobiography.

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Abstract:In this study, a comparison of Facebook and Instagram was made concerning the emotions regarding, and identification with an automatically generated autobiography based on social media. With the increasing importance of social media, people create their own online autobiographies. Autobiographies and reminiscing on those play an important role in the construction of identity. Furthermore, during the act of reminiscence, emotions are elicited. This research aimed at exploring in general valence of emotions which are elicited while reviewing an automatically generated autobiography. Additionally, the level of identification was tested. A mixed design was employed with condition (Facebook vs. Instagram) and time (pre-test vs. post-test) as independent variables. The website MySocialBook.com was used to create an automatically generated autobiography based on either Facebook or Instagram posts. Participants (N=24) completed the PANAS before and after the reviewing of the automatically generated autobiography to measure positive and negative emotions. Furthermore, two items were used to measure the identification with the autobiography after having reviewed the automatically generated autobiography. It was shown that participants reported significantly more positive emotions, yet no change in negative emotions after reviewing their automatically generated autobiography compared to the pre-test. However, no difference was found between Facebook and Instagram. Furthermore, the level of identification was similar for both conditions. The results indicate that more positive emotions, but not negative ones, are experienced after reviewing one’s own social media profile, irrespective of which social media platform is used. This might suggest that the post content does not differ, despite the differences in audience and post type between Facebook and Instagram. Nevertheless, this study hints at a possible link between the experienced emotions and the identification with one’s social media profile. Finally, the possible use of social media as a tool in reminiscence therapy is briefly discussed.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology BSc (56604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/78313
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