Social Media Project: Final Paper
Jessica O’Shea
Writing, Research, and Technology
Professor Mangini
Facebook Has Become ‘Aunt-book’
Facebook has been considered to be for the young, the teenage and college generation, the ones addicted to regaling their hundreds of “friends” with tales of morning breakfast, annoying classes, and the struggle to find the right outfit. Now, as the older generation adapts to this technology, Facebook has become the domain of the Aunts. More than kids connecting with kids, the social media site has transformed into the aunts’ lifeline to the extended family and each other.
“Wide awake at 7am on a Sunday…” (Loree). A common post on my Aunt Linda’s wall, the update on when her alarm clock decided to go off, or how bright the sun was out the window. Her sister, Laura, responds, “I hear ya, I was 6am” (Bellmer Dellavolpe). Aunt Cathy pips up with, “…6:55” (Begnoche).
Inane as this conversation may seem, the reality of what’s happening is actually very important. These three women are sisters, ranging in age from fifty to sixty, and all live dozens of miles from the others. And yet, just after eight a.m. in late April, they were able to come together for a few minutes and share a special moment of ‘up-too-early-itis.”
Perhaps the best way to explain the importance of this moment is to tell a small story. Christmas is a big deal, with the large family coming from all over the East coast to converge into one little ranch house for hours of food, drink, and lots of company. The six sisters are often found perched on couches and chairs, sipping wine, and doing their best not to tear each other apart.
Lack of contact, old grudges, and general sibling teasing can be hit and miss at this time, and arguments have often broken out. For years, this was the norm. Then, about four years ago, there was a change. No more true fighting, no missteps, no social mistakes, the women had somehow become a close, understanding unit.
Evidence points to Facebook being the culprit. My aunts, on both sides, are almost as active as the younger generation of female users. Pulling from a sample of fifty posts made by family members, aunts made up 38% of posts, as compared to the 47% of female cousin posts. 53% of all familial “likes” were by the aunts. 100% of posts by an aunt had comments or likes from at least one sister.
What these numbers mean is that the older women are using Facebook as an avenue of consistent communication and support. Josh Bernoff examined this trend and explains his findings in his article, “Social Technographics: Conversationalists get onto the ladder.”
A “conversationalist” in this context is a user who updates their status on social networking sites at least weekly. Ignoring the younger crowed, Bernoff focused on adults and discovered that over half of the conversationalists were female and 70% were thirty-years-old or older (Bernoff).
This supports my observations that the older members of my family, specifically the older women, are sitting down and logging on with increasing frequency.
What made this find interesting was the “real-world” effect that this online communication seems to have on the family dynamic.
The relationships between the women have become, if not markedly closer, at least informed and they show interest in each other’s lives. This creates a feeling of community and caring that would be much more remote, or possibly removed, were it not for the ability of social media to bridge the gap of distance.
This improvement or positive turn for the relationships may, in part, be due to the language that the women tend to use on the site. In a study done by Dr. Ruth Page, who works in the department of English at the University of Leicester, it was found that women, ages ranging from eighteen to in their sixties, show “…an increasing trend for using 'expressive language' in Facebook (for example, for emphasis or to project friendliness)…” (University of Leicester).
This is most definitely seen in the posts and comments between the aunts. There is a high use of “expressive” text, such as exclamation points and typing words in capslock. A clear example if the high use of these tools can be seen in a post made by my Aunt Cathy. She writes, “Yeah, it’s Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” (Begnoche). They also use expressive phrases such as “wow,” “Woo hoo,” “you go,” and, of course, “love you.” Page’s study also included the use of emoticons, better known as smiley faces. The aunts used this form of online expression mainly with their children, or in reference to their children. For example, Aunt Joann uses a smile emoticon when wishing her niece a happy birthday. There are no emoticons in the communications between the aunts themselves.
So Facebook has given the aunts a place to communicate beyond sporadic phone calls and yearly family gatherings, but the true power may come in that the communication is so positive.
Whether that is the case on not, the clear truth is that Facebook has become the domain of the elder generation of women. It is not surprising that they took to the technology so well, as it has historically been women who lead the way in communication and language. Perhaps, after enough poking and prodding, they will manage to get their husbands and brothers to adopt Facebook as a family forum. Though I think this is unlikely. More realistically, the aunts will probably want to maintain a sort of sanctuary within Facebook, as a way to connect to their female family without the interference of the men. And why wouldn’t they want that? On the social media site, they have found support, love, an open forum, and a new connection with their loved ones that I, as a younger female member, am eager to learn from and participate in.
Works Cited
Begnoche, Cathy. Facebook.com. N.p., 2013. Web.
Bellmer Dellavolpe, Laura. Facebook.com. N.p., 21 Apr. 2013. Web.
Bernoff, Josh. "Social Technographics: Conversationalists Get onto the
Ladder."Empowered. Forrester Research, Inc, 19 Jan. 2010. Web. <http://forrester.typepad.com/groundswell/2010/01/conversationalists-get-onto-the-ladder.html>.
Burke, Moira. "How Families Interact on Facebook." Facebook.com. Facebook
Data Science, 6 Dec. 2012. Web. 01 May 2013. <https://www.facebook.com/notes/facebook-data-science/how-families-interact-on-facebook/10151208188528859>.
Loree, Linda. Facebook.com. N.p., 21 Apr. 2013. Web.
University of Leicester. "Women are best at being social on social media." ScienceDaily,
31 Dec. 1969. Web. 1 May 2013.
Bottom of Form
Writing, Research, and Technology
Professor Mangini
Facebook Has Become ‘Aunt-book’
Facebook has been considered to be for the young, the teenage and college generation, the ones addicted to regaling their hundreds of “friends” with tales of morning breakfast, annoying classes, and the struggle to find the right outfit. Now, as the older generation adapts to this technology, Facebook has become the domain of the Aunts. More than kids connecting with kids, the social media site has transformed into the aunts’ lifeline to the extended family and each other.
“Wide awake at 7am on a Sunday…” (Loree). A common post on my Aunt Linda’s wall, the update on when her alarm clock decided to go off, or how bright the sun was out the window. Her sister, Laura, responds, “I hear ya, I was 6am” (Bellmer Dellavolpe). Aunt Cathy pips up with, “…6:55” (Begnoche).
Inane as this conversation may seem, the reality of what’s happening is actually very important. These three women are sisters, ranging in age from fifty to sixty, and all live dozens of miles from the others. And yet, just after eight a.m. in late April, they were able to come together for a few minutes and share a special moment of ‘up-too-early-itis.”
Perhaps the best way to explain the importance of this moment is to tell a small story. Christmas is a big deal, with the large family coming from all over the East coast to converge into one little ranch house for hours of food, drink, and lots of company. The six sisters are often found perched on couches and chairs, sipping wine, and doing their best not to tear each other apart.
Lack of contact, old grudges, and general sibling teasing can be hit and miss at this time, and arguments have often broken out. For years, this was the norm. Then, about four years ago, there was a change. No more true fighting, no missteps, no social mistakes, the women had somehow become a close, understanding unit.
Evidence points to Facebook being the culprit. My aunts, on both sides, are almost as active as the younger generation of female users. Pulling from a sample of fifty posts made by family members, aunts made up 38% of posts, as compared to the 47% of female cousin posts. 53% of all familial “likes” were by the aunts. 100% of posts by an aunt had comments or likes from at least one sister.
What these numbers mean is that the older women are using Facebook as an avenue of consistent communication and support. Josh Bernoff examined this trend and explains his findings in his article, “Social Technographics: Conversationalists get onto the ladder.”
A “conversationalist” in this context is a user who updates their status on social networking sites at least weekly. Ignoring the younger crowed, Bernoff focused on adults and discovered that over half of the conversationalists were female and 70% were thirty-years-old or older (Bernoff).
This supports my observations that the older members of my family, specifically the older women, are sitting down and logging on with increasing frequency.
What made this find interesting was the “real-world” effect that this online communication seems to have on the family dynamic.
The relationships between the women have become, if not markedly closer, at least informed and they show interest in each other’s lives. This creates a feeling of community and caring that would be much more remote, or possibly removed, were it not for the ability of social media to bridge the gap of distance.
This improvement or positive turn for the relationships may, in part, be due to the language that the women tend to use on the site. In a study done by Dr. Ruth Page, who works in the department of English at the University of Leicester, it was found that women, ages ranging from eighteen to in their sixties, show “…an increasing trend for using 'expressive language' in Facebook (for example, for emphasis or to project friendliness)…” (University of Leicester).
This is most definitely seen in the posts and comments between the aunts. There is a high use of “expressive” text, such as exclamation points and typing words in capslock. A clear example if the high use of these tools can be seen in a post made by my Aunt Cathy. She writes, “Yeah, it’s Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” (Begnoche). They also use expressive phrases such as “wow,” “Woo hoo,” “you go,” and, of course, “love you.” Page’s study also included the use of emoticons, better known as smiley faces. The aunts used this form of online expression mainly with their children, or in reference to their children. For example, Aunt Joann uses a smile emoticon when wishing her niece a happy birthday. There are no emoticons in the communications between the aunts themselves.
So Facebook has given the aunts a place to communicate beyond sporadic phone calls and yearly family gatherings, but the true power may come in that the communication is so positive.
Whether that is the case on not, the clear truth is that Facebook has become the domain of the elder generation of women. It is not surprising that they took to the technology so well, as it has historically been women who lead the way in communication and language. Perhaps, after enough poking and prodding, they will manage to get their husbands and brothers to adopt Facebook as a family forum. Though I think this is unlikely. More realistically, the aunts will probably want to maintain a sort of sanctuary within Facebook, as a way to connect to their female family without the interference of the men. And why wouldn’t they want that? On the social media site, they have found support, love, an open forum, and a new connection with their loved ones that I, as a younger female member, am eager to learn from and participate in.
Works Cited
Begnoche, Cathy. Facebook.com. N.p., 2013. Web.
Bellmer Dellavolpe, Laura. Facebook.com. N.p., 21 Apr. 2013. Web.
Bernoff, Josh. "Social Technographics: Conversationalists Get onto the
Ladder."Empowered. Forrester Research, Inc, 19 Jan. 2010. Web. <http://forrester.typepad.com/groundswell/2010/01/conversationalists-get-onto-the-ladder.html>.
Burke, Moira. "How Families Interact on Facebook." Facebook.com. Facebook
Data Science, 6 Dec. 2012. Web. 01 May 2013. <https://www.facebook.com/notes/facebook-data-science/how-families-interact-on-facebook/10151208188528859>.
Loree, Linda. Facebook.com. N.p., 21 Apr. 2013. Web.
University of Leicester. "Women are best at being social on social media." ScienceDaily,
31 Dec. 1969. Web. 1 May 2013.
Bottom of Form
Extremely Rough Draft: Facebook Data and Early Connections
Anyone within the “Net” generation, the ones who grew up with technology, as it is define today, can tell of the moment they realized their Mom decided to join Facebook. There was horror, confusion, and not a little bit of trepidation. What has happened recently, though, may be even more concerning. Much of the Baby Boomer generation have decided to log in to this social networking phenomenon, which means it’s not just mom anymore, but all the aunts and uncles and cousins that go along with her.
According to a report done by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, internet uses of the Boomer generation, those between the ages of 54 to 63, leaned towards information searches, religious searches, and clicking through government websites. Apparently, my vast array of Aunts missed that memo, as they seem to use the internet almost solely to talk to and about their children.
Data: 50 Facebook posts taken from section containing only immediate family.
10 Aunts (Including Mother)
0 Uncles
7 Male Cousins
7 Female Cousins
From this data, it seems that women of the older generation, rather than the men are undertaking the task of integration into the online community. This makes sense, as women have historically been the first to latch on to avenues of communication. Facebook is where their children are, and better yet, this forum allows them to talk in an open and group way, which previously was only possible when physically together.
My aunts use Facebook to talk to their children and to talk to each other about their children.
Percentage of Posts:
Aunts: 38%
Uncles: 0%
M Cousins: 15%
F Cousins: 47%
Summary of Aunt Posts: (Ages 50-65)
Happy Birthday!
If you love your kids, Share this photo
Pictures of kids
Pictures of pets that are treated like kids
Day of the week
I’m awake early! + Day of the week
Post to their kid that should have been a text message
Liked any/all posts made by child/niece/nephew
Summary of Female Cousin Posts: (Ages 16-30)
OMG I have so much WORK!
Finished my work
Picture of flowers/landscape/food
Selfie!
I need to sleep
I’m eating
I’m drinking
I want this: Insert link to Pinterest
Summary of Male Cousin Posts: (Ages 16-30)
New profile picture
Picture of landscape
Sports team!
NFL
I ran THIS far
News article
Music
Cousins, or those of my age group, do not use Facebook as a means to keep in contact with family members to any greater extent that they use it to keep up to date with friends, but those of the other generation use it as a lifeline to the younger members of the family and as a support group between those their age.
According to a report done by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, internet uses of the Boomer generation, those between the ages of 54 to 63, leaned towards information searches, religious searches, and clicking through government websites. Apparently, my vast array of Aunts missed that memo, as they seem to use the internet almost solely to talk to and about their children.
Data: 50 Facebook posts taken from section containing only immediate family.
10 Aunts (Including Mother)
0 Uncles
7 Male Cousins
7 Female Cousins
From this data, it seems that women of the older generation, rather than the men are undertaking the task of integration into the online community. This makes sense, as women have historically been the first to latch on to avenues of communication. Facebook is where their children are, and better yet, this forum allows them to talk in an open and group way, which previously was only possible when physically together.
My aunts use Facebook to talk to their children and to talk to each other about their children.
Percentage of Posts:
Aunts: 38%
Uncles: 0%
M Cousins: 15%
F Cousins: 47%
Summary of Aunt Posts: (Ages 50-65)
Happy Birthday!
If you love your kids, Share this photo
Pictures of kids
Pictures of pets that are treated like kids
Day of the week
I’m awake early! + Day of the week
Post to their kid that should have been a text message
Liked any/all posts made by child/niece/nephew
Summary of Female Cousin Posts: (Ages 16-30)
OMG I have so much WORK!
Finished my work
Picture of flowers/landscape/food
Selfie!
I need to sleep
I’m eating
I’m drinking
I want this: Insert link to Pinterest
Summary of Male Cousin Posts: (Ages 16-30)
New profile picture
Picture of landscape
Sports team!
NFL
I ran THIS far
News article
Music
Cousins, or those of my age group, do not use Facebook as a means to keep in contact with family members to any greater extent that they use it to keep up to date with friends, but those of the other generation use it as a lifeline to the younger members of the family and as a support group between those their age.
Facebook Paper: What I'm Thinking
I created a page on Facebook that would show only posts put up by my immediate family members, and by that I mean siblings, parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. After setting up the page and letting it update, I took the first fifty posts. Out of those fifty, I saw a trend in how my aunts were using Facebook in relation to my cousins and each other, and how my cousins were using Facebook in relation to my aunts and each other. Basically, my aunts (and I only say aunts because not a single one of my uncles use Facebook) use the social media site to observe, comment on, and track the movements of thier nieces and nephews, while offering each other support in doing this. The aunts are kid focused, meaning that they use Facebook to focus on other people.
As for my cousins, they use Facebook how most of this generation do, as a way to update the world onthier daily activies and stressors. While they may like a picture of one another here or post a "Happy Birthday" there, mostly they seem to ignore ecah other in favor of focusing on themselves. They also completely ignore the attentions of the older family.
I am going to do more research to see if there is anything about the different ways adults and young adults see the use of Facebook, and if this "stalking" approach of my aunts has any effect on inter-family relations or if cousins who get more attention change their posts because of it. Or maybe I'll just focus on why this happens. Not sure, it depends on what kind of research I can find.
As for my cousins, they use Facebook how most of this generation do, as a way to update the world onthier daily activies and stressors. While they may like a picture of one another here or post a "Happy Birthday" there, mostly they seem to ignore ecah other in favor of focusing on themselves. They also completely ignore the attentions of the older family.
I am going to do more research to see if there is anything about the different ways adults and young adults see the use of Facebook, and if this "stalking" approach of my aunts has any effect on inter-family relations or if cousins who get more attention change their posts because of it. Or maybe I'll just focus on why this happens. Not sure, it depends on what kind of research I can find.