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It's not what you say, it's how you say it: language use on facebook impacts employability but not attractiveness

  • Graham G. Scott
    ,
  • Jason Sinclair
    ,
  • Emma Short
    ,
  • Gillian Bruce
  • University of the West of Scotland
    ,
  • University of Aberdeen
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Open access

Abstract

The expansion and increasing diversity of the Internet has seen a growth in user-generated online content, and an escalation in incorrect and nonstandardized language use (e.g., text speak). This evolution has been exemplified by social networking sites such as Facebook. In our experiment, participants viewed six Facebook profiles whose walls contained status updates that were either spelled correctly, incorrectly, or using text speak, and then rated the profile owners on measures of attractiveness and employability. It was shown that language use had no impact on attractiveness, but users who used correct language were seen as more intelligent, competent, and employable. These results highlight the need to control language in this area of research by demonstrating the variables' seemingly elevated importance to employers compared to peers. The findings also pave the way for further exploration of the Warranting Theory of impression formation online and the role of language in social media-based identity statements and behavioral residue. © Copyright 2014, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 2014.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 562-566 (5 pages)

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking (Volume 17, Issue 8)

Publication milestones

  • Published - 20/06/2014

Publication status

Published - 20/06/2014

ISSN

2152-2715

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/624295
  • Scopus: 84905450043
  • PubMed: 24949532

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