Italian Undergraduates Join Facebook, but Keep a Critical Distance: “It is Useless, but I’m Using It”

Paolo Ferri, Nicola Cavalli, Andrea Mangiatordi, Marina Micheli, Andrea Pozzali, Francesca Scenini and Fabio Serenelli
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Paolo Ferri: Observatory on New Media NumediaBios & Department of Educational Sciences, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
Nicola Cavalli: Observatory on New Media NumediaBios, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
Andrea Mangiatordi: Observatory on New Media NumediaBios, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
Marina Micheli: Observatory on New Media NumediaBios, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
Andrea Pozzali: Observatory on New Media NumediaBios, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy & Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Rome, Italy
Francesca Scenini: Observatory on New Media NumediaBios, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
Fabio Serenelli: Observatory on New Media NumediaBios, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy

International Journal of Digital Literacy and Digital Competence (IJDLDC), 2013, vol. 4, issue 2, 13-24

Abstract: Facebook is the most popular social network site in Italy, and its usage is particularly spread among younger generations. This paper explores how undergraduate students use Facebook, and what meanings they attach to it. Research was performed in 2008 and in 2009 at a Italian university, with a triangulation of quantitative and qualitative methodology. The authors’ survey data show the quick adoption of Facebook. In 2008 half of the students were completely unfamiliar with Facebook, while in 2009 59% of them were using it on a regular basis. Evidence coming from semi-structured interviews with randomly selected university students show that the massive adoption of Facebook goes hand in hand with a general critical attitude. Concerns about privacy issues were common, and they can also lead to a kind of detachment from this site. Implications on the perspective use of Facebook as an educational tool are discussed in the paper.

Date: 2013
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:igg:jdldc0:v:4:y:2013:i:2:p:13-24

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