What You Say and Where You Say It Matter: Effects of Facebook Message Publicity and Support Type on Evaluation of Support Message Quality. (December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Malloch, Yining; Feng, Bo
• Is Part Of: Social science computer review. Volume 40:Number 6(2022)
• Page Start: 1344
• Page End: 1357
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Subjects: social support -- channels -- Facebook -- supportive interaction -- interpersonal channel -- masspersonal channel -- private messaging -- status update; Social sciences -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Computers -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Microcomputers -- Periodicals; Sciences sociales -- Informatique -- Périodiques; Micro-ordinateurs -- Périodiques; 300.285
• DOI: 10.1177/08944393211007311
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0894-4393

Abstract

Guided by the masspersonal communication model, this study examined the impact of the communication channel (masspersonal vs. interpersonal) and support message type on evaluation of social support message quality in Facebook settings. An online factorial experiment with 480 participants revealed that support messages sent through interpersonal channels (e.g., private messaging) were perceived as higher in quality than those sent through masspersonal channels (e.g., status update). Regardless of channels, participants considered tangible support messages as higher quality than informational and emotional support messages. Implications for computer-mediated communication and social support theories and practices were discussed.