First Impression Formation Based on Valenced Self-Disclosure in Social Media Profiles

First Impression Formation Based on Valenced Self-Disclosure in Social Media Profiles

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This study aims to understand how the valence of self-disclosure (operationalized as the dominantly positive vs.balanced vs.dominantly negative social media posts of a future collaborator) influences first impression formation on social media.We also focus on trustworthiness as a mediator and perceived homophily as a moderator to specify the underlying mechanisms through which self-disclosure valence affects first impression formation.The results from an online Stash Cans experiment (N = 204) suggest that self-disclosure valence has a significant effect on perceived trustworthiness and likability when individuals evaluate an unknown future collaborator using the social media profile.

Trustworthiness mediates the effect of self-disclosure valence on likability when the individuals feel that they are dissimilar or even slightly similar to strangers.At that Helicopter Kit time, individuals tend to seek cues from both self-disclosure valence and perceived homophily to form the trustworthiness perception, and the influence of self-disclosure depends on the level of perceived homophily.