Understanding the psychological motives behind microblogging

Lin QIU
Angela K. Y. LEUNG, Singapore Management University
Jun Hao HO
Qi Min YEUNG
Kevin Joseph FRANCIS
Pei Fen CHUA

Abstract

This research aims to understand the psychological motives behindmicroblogging. We conducted two studies to investigate if social exclusion andexistential anxiety would lead to a high tendency to microblog. Our results showthat participants did not use microblogging to satisfy their needs for socialconnection and affiliation, but highly extraverted participants did use it to relievetheir existential anxiety.