You have been poked: Exploring the uses and gratifications of Facebook among emerging adults

Authors

  • Brett A. Bumgarner

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v12i11.2026

Abstract

The social networking site Facebook has become an inescapable phenomenon for college students, but little systematic research has studied why these students use Facebook. I conducted an online survey among Facebook users at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (N = 1,049) to examine why they use Facebook and how it fulfills their needs. The most prevalent use of Facebook was as a social activity – students reported using Facebook with friends to view and discuss other people’s profiles. Essentially, Facebook appears to operate primarily as a tool for the facilitation of gossip.

Author Biography

Brett A. Bumgarner

Brett A. Bumgarner is a graduate from the school of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of North at Chapel Hill.

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How to Cite

Bumgarner, B. A. (2007). You have been poked: Exploring the uses and gratifications of Facebook among emerging adults. First Monday, 12(11). https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v12i11.2026