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Are All “Friends” Beneficial? The Use of Facebook and WeChat and the Social Capital of College Students in Macau
Li XQ(李小勤)
2020-10-12
Source PublicationSAGE Open
ISSN2158-2440
Volume10Issue:4Pages:2158244020963614
Abstract

Facebook is the most popular social network site (SNS) globally, and WeChat is the top SNS in China, so few regions in the world exist where both SNSs are used simultaneously and are popular among the younger generation, and even fewer studies have been conducted on the comparison of the use of the two top SNSs. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the implications of using home country and global top SNSs for social capital among Chinese students from local (i.e., Macau SAR) and mainland China by adapting the analysis framework of the formation and maintenance of social capital—that is, to assess bridging, bonding social capital, and maintained social capital. A survey of undergraduate students at the only comprehensive public university of Macau (N = 348) reveals that both Facebook and WeChat use are positively associated with bridging social capital and bonding social capital, yet only WeChat use has a significant and positive relationship with maintained social capital. In contrast, the time spent on Facebook has a strong negative relationship with bridging and bonding social capital. On-campus living also has a positive relationship with both bridging and bonding social capital. All this suggests that keeping social connections virtually and physically simultaneously might provide greater benefits for users.

KeywordSocial Network Site Social Capital Wechat Facebook Macau
Subject Area社会学 ; 新闻学与传播学 ; 教育学
DOI10.1177/2158244020963614
URLView the original
Indexed BySSCI
Language英語English
Funding ProjectMedia Use, Scientific Understanding, Public Trust of Scientists and NGOs in China: The Implications of Knowledge Gaps in a Network Society Perspective
WOS Research AreaSocial Sciences - Other Topics
WOS SubjectSocial Sciences, Interdisciplinary
WOS IDWOS:000581556300001
PublisherSAGE
Scopus ID2-s2.0-85092376980
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Citation statistics
Document TypeJournal article
CollectionFaculty of Social Sciences
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION
Corresponding AuthorLi XQ(李小勤)
AffiliationThe Department of Communication, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau
First Author AffilicationFaculty of Social Sciences
Corresponding Author AffilicationFaculty of Social Sciences
Recommended Citation
GB/T 7714
Li XQ. Are All “Friends” Beneficial? The Use of Facebook and WeChat and the Social Capital of College Students in Macau[J]. SAGE Open, 2020, 10(4), 2158244020963614.
APA Li XQ.(2020). Are All “Friends” Beneficial? The Use of Facebook and WeChat and the Social Capital of College Students in Macau. SAGE Open, 10(4), 2158244020963614.
MLA Li XQ."Are All “Friends” Beneficial? The Use of Facebook and WeChat and the Social Capital of College Students in Macau".SAGE Open 10.4(2020):2158244020963614.
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