Extroverted neurotics open to new experiences most avid users of social media
Written by Ron Desi on January 20, 2010 – 2:45 pm -Which personality type is the most avid user of social media? Well, according to a study in Computers in Human Behavior, extroverted neurotics open to new experiences are the most likely users. The study titled “Who interacts on the Web?: The intersection of users’ personality and social media use” examined users of social media and three dimensions of the Big-Five personality model.
The Big Five model includes:
- openness to experience: appreciation for a variety of experiences
- conscientiousness: careful and dependable as well as self-disciplined
- extraversion: outgoing and sociable
- agreeableness: courteous and caring
- neuroticism: anxious and depressed and sometimes hostile
This study only looked at openness to experience, extraversion, and neuroticism.
The scientific survey was sent to 10,000 qualified U.S. adults with 1,482 validly completed surveys returned. Of these, 959 cases were examined. 67% of the respondents were female and 33% were male. Ages ranged from 18 – 84 with an average age of 46.
After the statistical analysis was complete the researchers found that the most avid users of social media were extroverts open to new experiences. They also found that people who are more emotionally stable will use social media less frequently. The researchers state that “anxious and worrisome individuals tend to use social media more frequently than those who are emotionally stable.”
So, it is good to know that most reading this blog are gregarious extroverts open to change and new experiences but are quite emotionally unstable. I’m just the messenger.
Read the study for yourself and make your own conclusions. Remember that all scientific research has its limitations.
Article Reference
Correa, T. , Willard Hinsley, A. and Gil de Zuniga, H. , 2009-08-05 “Who interacts on the Web?: The intersection of users’ personality and social media use” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Sheraton Boston, Boston, MA Online <APPLICATION/PDF>. 2010-01-15 from http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p374999_index.html
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