User-generated content on Facebook: Implications from the perspective of two organisations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v21i7.6012Keywords:
User Generated Content, User benefits, User costs, Social Networking Sites, Implications, Thematic Analysis.Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine the implications (user benefits and costs) of user-generated content posted by users on Facebook from an organisational perspective. Though motivations to use social networking sites are widely researched and published, studies on implications eventuating from different types of content posted by users on social networking sites is sparse. Hence, this study addresses the gap in literature by an interpretive analysis of user-generated content posted by users on the Facebook of two organisations. The content posted by users is classified using an information classification framework for social networking sites. Implications eventuating from the classified user-generated content to individuals and organisations are established using thematic analysis. The results of analysis demonstrate that the major types of user-generated content posted in the social information category are requests, criticism, greetings, status updates, and announcements. The theoretical implications in terms of user benefits are information seeking, relationship building, coordination and collaboration, identity construction and knowledge dissemination whereas social conflict is a major cost to users. The practical implications are understood in terms of technical assistance, supporting projects that extend open access repository initiatives, collaboration and building capacity among repository users, user community development, marketing and communication as well as accomplishing the core principles of the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience. This study also leads to considerable gains for users and designers of social networking sites by identifying the different types of user-generated content so that social networking sites can be used as a beneficial tool maximizing its implications.
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- Figure 1 User Information
- Figure 2 User Education
- Figure 3 User Employment
- Figure 4 Media Rich Information
- Figure 5 Textual Communication
- Figure 6 Information classification framework of User Generated Content
- Figure 7 Implications of Basic User Generated Content
- Figure 8 Implications of Core Information Categories
- Table 1 Content in the User Information Category
- Table 2 Content in the User Education Category
- Table 3 Content in the User Employment Category
- Table 4 Content in the Textual Communication Category
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