Exploratory Research on Social Media and Digital Writing : Qualitative Interview of Japanese College Students

Abstract

This exploratory study examined how indigenous social media relates to college students' peer interaction and cultural involvement toward digital writing on social networking services (SNSs) in Japan. A qualitative research design was adopted that involved semi-structured in-depth interviews with eight university students on social media participation to investigate the role new technologies play in the establishment of peer connection practices. It was found that the respondents employed SNSs to connect with friends and to establish a sense of belonging by using a “connected presence” strategy. A thin but perpetual sense of membership belonging was developed mainly through silent online participation behavior which enhanced transient friendships. In addition, connected presence strategies that contribute to humorous content and emoticons were analyzed and it was found that social media facilitated the creation of easy-going online identities, which defuses tension, discomfort, or conflict. Finally, it was found that cultural traits such as a “psychological status of shame” and an “extreme sense of privacy protection” could have an impact on the digital writing of young people.