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

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. Copyright © 2024 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.