Friends (Temporarily) Forever : Frequency of Facebook Use, Relationship Satisfaction, and Perception of Friendship

Abstract

Facebook is a social networking site where users create profiles and engage in an online global community through the process of reciprocal "friending". Previous research has shown that Facebook promotes low commitment and weak relational ties among college students. However, research has not shown how the frequency of Facebook use is related to relationship satisfaction. Participants who were 18 to 25 year olds were given an online survey assessing relationship satisfaction using Norton's (1983) relationship scale, frequency of Facebook use, and the participants' perception of friendship. Findings will help determine whether frequency of Facebook use impacts young adults' satisfaction with relationships, and will illuminate young adults' perceptions of what friendship means.