Profiles under influence: Third person effect in the context of Facebook

ABSTRACT: The aim of this research is to find out the perceptual differences for negative effects of Facebook between high school and college students. As Internet, SNS, finally Facebook has become indispensable parts of our daily lives, whether they agree or not, all audiences were affected from Facebook in different proportions. Especially for the young generation, Facebook has become a part of daily life and it affects their social and psychological behavior. The present research takes place in the TRNC with Turkish and international students attending the Eastern Mediterranean University, Namık Kemal Lisesi, Near East University, 20 Temmuz Fen Lisesi, The Girne American University, Girne Anafartalar Lisesi, European University of Lefke and Lefke Gazi Lisesi in the Fall semester of 2013-2014 academic year. This study sets out to explore the students’ perceived level of media effects on themselves and on others in the context of Facebook. In addition, present study also measures the Internet addiction levels and Facebook addiction levels of the high school and college students. Also, present study places out to examine whether there is statistically significant difference between gender and addiction to Facebook towards the perceived negative effects from Facebook. Third Person Effect basically measures the perceptual differences between “me and them” over the effects of media messages. In a typical Third Person studies, perceived effects on others are expected more than perceived effects on themselves. Present study found strong support for the Third Person Theory. The findings of the study suggest that students from both education levels perceive that Facebook has more negative effects on others. Both high school and college students agree that others’ behaviors and opinions are affected more by Facebook than their behaviors and opinions. The results revealed that college students’ perceptions are in-line with social distance. However, high school students agree that college students in general are affected less than high school students in general. The most important finding is that perceived knowledge is more dominant than social distance in perceived effects from media. Majority of the participants found not addicted to Facebook but there is a tendency toward addiction. Gender is statistically non-significant in the present study. Keywords: Third-person Effect, Addiction, Facebook, Social Distance, Percieved Knowledge, Social Mediav. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………