Davy Tollenaere

Momenteel leg ik de laatste hand aan mijn thesis. Nalezen, hier en daar nog wat aanvullen en wat layouten en het is helemaal klaar. Ik heb alvast het abstract hier geplaatst om jullie een beeld te geven waar ik nu al die maanden mee bezig geweest ben.

Abstract 

Through an exhaustive review of literature involving evolutionary psychology, evolution theory, semeiotics, memetics and social media combined with participatory observations and a content analysis of hundreds of personal profiles on Netlog and Facebook, this paper looks at the evolutionary bases of participation in social network sites. We exemplify the hypothesis that the fundamental motivations for partaking in SNS’s, as a microcosm and extension of the offline civilisation, root in an evolutionary past and that this online behaviour is driven by five major goals. Photographs, nicknames, connections, applications and other functionalities on social network sites within different cultures reveal information that correspond with the universal motivations stated in evolutionary psychology. We also contemplate the evolution and diffusion of cultural products, memes, on these sites and their interaction with the basic goals. The insights we attained contribute to an extensive theory regarding social networks and expand the understanding of the online demeanour.