Title: A study on users' self-disclosure on social networking sites: the roles of individual differences

Authors: Quang Dung Truong; Nam Tien Duong

Addresses: Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ' Department of Science, Technology and International Projects, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance (UEF), 141-145 Dien Bien Phu, Ward 15, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Abstract: This study, grounded in the theory of personal needs, aimed to understand how self-disclosure to friends within interpersonal networks formed on social networking sites is influenced by individual self-presentation and interpersonal relationship needs. Additionally, it sought to determine whether there are variations in self-disclosure due to personality traits. The study employed a questionnaire survey method for Facebook users, obtaining 513 valid responses, and analysed the data using PLS. The results indicated that personal self-presentation, expressed inclusion, and expressed affection have a positive impact on self-disclosure to both casual and close friends. Expressed affection positively influences self-disclosure with casual friends, while wanted inclusion negatively impacts self-disclosure with both casual and close friends. Lastly, personality traits with varying degrees of extraversion and narcissism also differentially affect users' self-disclosure.

Keywords: individual differences; SNS; self-disclosure; relationship; friends.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEB.2024.139751

International Journal of Electronic Business, 2024 Vol.19 No.3, pp.271 - 295

Received: 25 Jul 2023
Accepted: 05 Dec 2023
Published online: 05 Jul 2024 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article