How Affective Is a "Like"?: The Effect of Paralinguistic Digital Affordances on Perceived Social Support

Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2016 Sep;19(9):562-6. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2016.0162.

Abstract

A national survey asked 323 U.S. adults about paralinguistic digital affordances (PDAs) and how these forms of lightweight feedback within social media were associated with their perceived social support. People perceived PDAs (e.g., Likes, Favorites, and Upvotes) as socially supportive both quantitatively and qualitatively, even without implicit meaning associated with them. People who are highly sensitive about what others think of them and have high self-esteem are more likely to perceive higher social support from PDAs.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Loneliness / psychology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Self Concept*
  • Social Media* / statistics & numerical data
  • Social Perception*
  • Social Support*
  • Young Adult