Most differences on this question are quite modest—for example, men are twice as likely as women to say that finding potential dating or romantic partners is a minor reason for using online social platforms (17% vs.
9%) but overall few men say that this is a major factor (just 4% do so).
One in ten Twitter users (11%) say that reading comments by politicians, celebrities or athletes is a major reason they use online social networks, and 30% say that this is a minor reason for their usage of these sites.
Each of these is notably higher than the average for social media users who do not use Twitter (4% of these users say this is a major reason for using these sites, with 11% citing it as a minor reason).
(last updated: October 29, 2009) (updates w/ complete citation and links should be sent to zephoria [@] zephoria.org) For an overview of this space, including a definition of "social network sites," a history of SNSs, and a literature review, see boyd & Ellison's 2007 introduction to the Special Issue on Social Network Sites entitled Social Network Sites: Definition, History, and Scholarship.
This frames what pieces are included in this list and why.
In addition to age, gender and parental status are linked with users’ attitudes towards social media as a way to maintain connections with friends.