How true is the promise of a “Flat world” ? The use of social networking sites among American college students

While many would believe that social networks sites (SNS) offer the opportunity to mingle with a different segment of people than in real lives, a study (2008) by Eszter Hargittai suggests that college-age students in USA are more likely to be using online networks to interact with their friends in real life. The results suggested that students of Asian origin were more likely to use Friendster and Xanga whereas Hispanic students were more likely to be present on MySpace. Therefore, indicating that possibly students may be sticking with their own kind even on SNS.

When it comes to gender, more women are likely to use MySpace than men, however, on other SNS there is equal representation of both. Besides ethnicity and gender, the other factors that affected SNS use were parental education (high school or college degree), living context (at home or campus) and experience with Internet use. Facebook and Xanga users were more likely to have a parent with a college degree, were not living at home and used Internet for more hours weekly. MySpace users were more likely to be Hispanic, female and have a parent with less than high school degree.

Thus despite possibilities of leveling the field, SNS use of college-age students indicate that this is not yet happening.