Abstract (eng)
Recently the Internet and social media have become an important object of research in the field of communications because of the growing significance of social media: At present, Facebook or WhatsApp are the most popular social media applications for young people in German-speaking countries. Here a trend can be observed that indicates that an increasing number of older people use social media platforms.
This research paper examines and compares the motives young and older people have for using Facebook. The theoretical background includes the thematic classification of the Internet and social media in the field of communication science, the mediatization theory by Friedrich Krotz and the uses and gratifications approach. Next, an overview of the current state of research into the use of and the motives for social media applications is given.
In the framework of the empirical study 12 interviews were conducted with young people aged 20 to 30 years and people aged 50 years and older. The results were evaluated according to Philipp Mayring’s content analysis.
The findings show that the primary motive for using Facebook in the 20- to 30-year age group and the age group of over 50-year-olds is the motive of maintaining social contacts. Secondary motives for using Facebook are the search for information, entertainment and self-presentation. However, the importance placed on these motives differs between the young and older age group. Job-related motives are also mentioned for the use of Facebook. In addition, the results indicate that Facebook plays a more important role as a source of information for young people, whereas older people prefer the social media platform as a communication tool.
The transcripts of the interviews and their analysis are being added to the printed version of the Master’s Thesis on a CD-ROM.