Comparing Social Media Effects in Brazil vs. US: The Shift of Interpersonal Relationships in the 21st Century

Identifier

243

Author

Nilse Furtado-Gilliam

Date

2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Major

Journalism

Concentration

Internet Journalism

Committee Chair

Jin Yang

Committee Member

Carrie Brown-Smith

Committee Member

Hayden Joseph

Abstract

The internet has changed the way we live. Social media has changed the way we communicate. The purpose of this study is to compare social media uses and gratifications in Brazil versus in the U.S. and test wether a shift in interpersonal communications from an offline setting to a digital one has taken place.Brazil was chosen for comparison because of its highly active online community despite of a very low rate (38%) of internet access by the general population. The U.S.A. was chosen because it is a pioneer user and developer of social media.The method of this study is survey. It found that the Brazilian sample use SNS for news more than the American sample does. Interpersonal relationships in Brazil and America are kept alive and strong with the new SNS platform; physical meetings are no longer the only way to maintain, develop and cultivate and interpersonal relationship.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

Recommended Citation

Furtado-Gilliam, Nilse, "Comparing Social Media Effects in Brazil vs. US: The Shift of Interpersonal Relationships in the 21st Century" (2011). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 183.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/etd/183