Differentiated Uses of Social Networking Platforms among Young People in the Autonomous Region of Madrid

Bibliographic Data

ID5934832
AuthorsMaría Cruz López-De-Ayala (0000-0002-6989-866X, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, corresponding author), Antonio García-Jiménez (0000-0002-8423-9486, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos), Yolanda Pastor-Ruiz (0000-0003-0667-958X, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos)
Year2021
Volume10
Issue4
Pages114
Publication date2021-03-24
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Sciences (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2076-0760 • E-ISSN: 2076-0760
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/socsci10040114
OpenAlexW3136022583
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited25

Young people make intensive and varied use of social networks, which depends on individual differences and use motives. This study analyses the different ways in which young people use the main social media platforms and the role that gender, age and social class play in users' behaviour with a representative sample of young people aged 17-24 in the Community of Madrid (Spain) (N = 533). Women and the youngest people (17-19 years of age) used social networks more consistently. Instagram and Facebook were the most widely used social networks with greater diversity of use in the areas of sociability and entertainment. While women and the younger age group spent more time using Instagram, young people from the upper class and upper-middle class used Facebook more often in a variety of ways. YouTube was used less frequently, and it was used mainly for entertainment purposes. Snapchat played a small role in this segment of the population. We conclude that age and social class play an important role in defining the different ways in which young people in the Region of Madrid use social media, and such influences vary depending on the platform under study and the types of activities being carried out

Class (philosophy · Diversity (politics · Entertainment · Geography · Political science · Population · Social class · Social group · Social media · Social network (sociolinguistics · Sociology · Variety (cybernetics · World Wide Web · Child Development and Digital Technology · Computer Science · Demography · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Psychology · Social Media and Politics · Social Psychology

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