Networked technologies as emotional resources? Exploring emerging emotional cultures on social network sites such as Facebook and Hi5: a trans-cultural study

Abstract

This trans-cultural study deals with the question whether social network sites (SNS)may be considered ‘third places’, where young people find an unrestricted space for self-expression and reflection apart from formal environments (such as universities) and parental control, as well as whether the perception and adoption of such services varies among different cultural communities. To assess these questions, group discussions, qualitative interviews (n = 25) and an online survey (n = 757) were conducted in Thailand and Austria. While all of the respondents use SNS for lifelogging – storing and sharing life experience – the perception of emotional third-place qualities of SNS varies among young people living in Thailand and Austria. The findings show that some effects related to emotional aspects of technology usage might result from the stage of diffusion of technology, while aspects of emotional experience and expression might be influenced by cultural models.