fyi: communication style preferences underlie differences in location-sharing adoption and usage

Xinru Page@xinrup

Bart P. Knijnenburg@usabart

Alfred Kobsa

FYICommunication Style Preferences

Underlie Differences in Location-Sharing

Adoption and Usage

Q: What is a key user characteristic that drives user adoption and participation in location-sharing social networks (LSSN)?

A: Successful LSSN users prefer to use a communication style we call FYI

IntroductionWhy do people (not) use LSSN?The role of personality

The FYI communication style

Studies and resultsLinking FYI to demographics and LSSN adoption

Linking FYI to personality and LSSN usage

ConclusionsDesigning for those who use FYI and those who don’t

Why do people use LSSN?

? LSSN usage

Studying use and non-useLocation-sharing is possible...A majority of Americans have a smartphone86% have used Location-Based services (e.g. GPS, location-based search)

...but few people are doing it“Geo-social” services are not vey popularOnly 10% of smartphone users have used LSSN

We need to study this “non-use” patternIt is important to also ask: Why do people not use LSSN?

Personality?

personality LSSN usage

Conflicting resultsExtraverts use more social media!

Correa et al. 2010, Rosen & Kluemper 2008, Ryan & Xenos 2011

No effect of extraversionJunglas & Spitzmuller 2006

Extraverts are less likely to disclose or spend time online

Landers & Lounsbury 2006

It may be too broad to be a direct predictor

Beyond personality

?personality LSSN usage

Communication styleWillingness to communicateMore useful for understanding offline communication than personality traits

McCroskey 1992, Richmond & Roach 1992

More useful for understanding social media usage than personality traits

Ross et al. 2009

Online communication has a different style

Communication without real-time verbal interactionBurke et al. 2011, Spitzberg 2006

Developing FYI

FYI LSSN usage

Interview study21 participants (21 to mid 40’s, 4 females)

0 7 were currently using Google Latitude0 4 had abandoned Google Latitude0 3 were planning to use it in the future0 7 chose not to use it

Asked about Latitude adoption and usageTwo types of responses...

The first type......wanted to know how others were doing without asking them directly

...did not want others to initiate interactions“I’d rather just share with them, ‘Hey, here’s where I am’. I could share without them actually calling me.” (P2)

...used LSSN to make inferences and inform others of their status without direct interaction

FYI

The second type......were bothered by too much information“I think people abuse Twitter and Facebook…status update doesn’t mean I want to know exactly what you’re doing at all times of every day…it’s too much information.”

...clearly preferred direct interaction

...did not like to communicate via LSSN“Isn’t all this a case of you’re trying to invent some fancy tool when really a much simpler tool solves the problem, right? Which is [to] give her a call.”

no FYI

Nationwide survey1021 participants 18-73 years old, 66.6% females, geographically balanced

Goals:0 Measure FYI0 Relate it to smartphone ownership, LSSN adoption0 Look for demographic differences

FYI communication styleI want others to know how I’m doing without having to tell them.

I want others to know where I am without them having to bother me by asking.

I want to know where others are without having to bother them by asking.

More information is always good.

ResultsFYI has a positive effect on LSSN intention to use, which in turn has a large impact on actual usage

FYI has a negative effect on desire to call others

Older people are less likely to be FYI communicators, but parents are more likely to be FYI communicators

LSSN increases with smartphone ownership, and older people and non-FYI communicators are less likely to have a smartphone

Intention to use LSSN

Children-0.593***

FYI

Age

LSSN usageSmartphone ownership

I'd rather call than use LSSN

0.755***

0.425***

0.560***

-0.272***

0.192***

-0.268*** 0.271***

Results - model

FYI has a positive effect on LSSN intention to use, which in turn has a large impact on actual

usage


Children-0.593***

FYI

Age



0.755***

0.425***

0.560***

-0.272***

0.192***

-0.268*** 0.271***


FYI

LSSN usage

0.755***

0.425***

FYI has a negative effect on desire to call others


Children-0.593***

FYI

Age



0.755***

0.425***

0.560***

-0.272***

0.192***

-0.268*** 0.271***

-0.593***FYI


Older people are less likely to be FYI communicators, but parents are more likely to be FYI communicators


Children-0.593***

FYI

Age



0.755***

0.425***

0.560***

-0.272***

0.192***

-0.268*** 0.271***

Children FYI

Age

-0.272***

0.192***

LSSN increases with smartphone ownership, and older people and non-FYI communicators are less likely to have a smartphone


Children-0.593***

FYI

Age



0.755***

0.425***

0.560***

-0.272***

0.192***

-0.268*** 0.271***

FYI

Age


0.560***

-0.268*** 0.271***


Children-0.593***

FYI

Age



0.755***

0.425***

0.560***

-0.272***

0.192***

-0.268*** 0.271***

Follow-up expanded survey180 participants18-69 years old, 41.7% females

Goals:0 Further develop the FYI construct (my vs. others’ location)0 Test its external validity, relate it to extent of participation (via

“Signaling”)0 Integrate personality traits (big-5)

FYI for my locationOthers should be able to get my location when they feel they need it.

I want others to know where I am, without my having to bother to tell them.

I would prefer to share my location with everyone in case anyone wants it.

FYI for others’ locationRather than wait for others to tell me where they are, I would like a way to know someone’s location whenever I need it.

I want to know where others are without having to bother them by asking.

It would be useful to me if others would make their location available to everyone.

SignalingFYI communicators were adept at signaling nonverbal cues in online interactions

People use nonverbal cues to signal the true meaning of their message

In online interactions, people must adopt new ways of signaling these cuese.g. “Busy” status message

FYI communicators are better at this

SignalingI find that posting updates about myself is an effective way to keep others informed.

Others get a good idea of whether I am free or busy using my online posts or status.

Social Media poorly captures how or what I am doing.

Extent of participationOnline signalers......have confidence in using social media ...share on social media without limitations

Non-signalers......are afraid others will misunderstand their status or current activities ...limit their social media activity and share very little

Limited participationI limit how I use social media because I worry about what others will do.

I limit my activity on social media to keep others from interacting with me.

Involved participationI share everything on social media because I am not worried about who will see it.

I never hold back on what I say or do with others online.

ResultsThe effects of model 1 are confirmed

FYI increases Signaling, which in turn increases Participation

Emotionally Stable pps disliked using FYI to learn others’ location; Extraverts liked using FYI to share their own location

Effects are driven by FYI for my location(although correlated with FYI for others’ location)


Emotional Stability

-0.422***

F.Y.I. style my

location

Extravert LSSN usageSmartphone ownership


0.646***

0.512***0.457***

F.Y.I. style others' location

-0.313***Signaling

Limitedparticipation

Involved participation

0.800***

-0.258**

0.247**

0.348***

-0.519***0.617***

0.542***

-0.485***

Results - model


Emotional Stability

-0.422***

F.Y.I. style my

location



0.646***

0.512***0.457***


-0.313***Signaling



0.800***

-0.258**

0.247**

0.348***

-0.519***0.617***

0.542***

-0.485***


Emotional Stability

-0.422***

F.Y.I. style my

location



0.646***

0.512***0.457***


-0.313***Signaling



0.800***

-0.258**

0.247**

0.348***

-0.519***0.617***

0.542***

-0.485***

The effects of model 1 are confirmed


-0.422***

F.Y.I. style my

location



0.646***

0.512***0.457***

-0.313***

0.348***


Emotional Stability

-0.422***

F.Y.I. style my

location



0.646***

0.512***0.457***


-0.313***Signaling



0.800***

-0.258**

0.247**

0.348***

-0.519***0.617***

0.542***

-0.485***

FYI increases Signaling, which in turn increases Participation

F.Y.I. style my

location

Signaling



-0.519***0.617***

0.542***

-0.485***


Emotional Stability

-0.422***

F.Y.I. style my

location



0.646***

0.512***0.457***


-0.313***Signaling



0.800***

-0.258**

0.247**

0.348***

-0.519***0.617***

0.542***

-0.485***

Emotionally Stable pps disliked using FYI to learn others’ location; Extraverts liked using FYI to share their own location

Emotional Stability

F.Y.I. style my

location

Extravert


-0.258**

0.247**


Emotional Stability

-0.422***

F.Y.I. style my

location



0.646***

0.512***0.457***


-0.313***Signaling



0.800***

-0.258**

0.247**

0.348***

-0.519***0.617***

0.542***

-0.485***

Effects are driven by FYI for my location(although correlated with FYI for others’ location)

F.Y.I. style my

location


0.800***


Emotional Stability

-0.422***

F.Y.I. style my

location



0.646***

0.512***0.457***


-0.313***Signaling



0.800***

-0.258**

0.247**

0.348***

-0.519***0.617***

0.542***

-0.485***


Emotional Stability

-0.422***

F.Y.I. style my

location



0.646***

0.512***0.457***


-0.313***Signaling



0.800***

-0.258**

0.247**

0.348***

-0.519***0.617***

0.542***

-0.485***

Wrap up: FYI and SignalingFYI as a driver of LSSN adoption and usageA mediator of demographic and personality-based effectsAn important factor for user research

Signaling as a way to regulate interactionsThose who don’t use it tend to participate less overall

These factors likely extend beyond LSSN to social media in general!

Designing for non-FYI usersThose who do not use FYI......want more direct communication...think signaling leads to misunderstandings

Maybe they should just call others?Many want to use social networks too!

Idea: a more co-constructive protocolNegotiate a “location offer” that serves a specific purposeE.g. “I’m in town this week; let’s share location to see if we can meet up”

Successful LSSN users prefer to use a communication style we call FYI

We should account for the FYI style in our research and design practice

Designing for non-FYI users may kindle new growth in LSSN usage and adoption

fyi: communication style preferences underlie differences in location-sharing adoption and usage

Technology