Redirect your efforts: Extraversions effect on the informational benefits received from active and passive LinkedIn use.

Abstract

Online networking is facilitated by social networking sites (SNS). LinkedIn is an SNS used for professional purposes. Previous studies have shown that individuals can increase their social capital through LinkedIn by receiving information that they can use to improve their professional standing. This is because LinkedIn offers a unique networking experience as it satisfies all affordances in the affordance framework. The purpose of this study is to investigate how individuals receive these informational benefits from actively or passively using LinkedIn and how extraversion can moderate this relationship. Using an online survey, data was collected from 237 LinkedIn users. Active LinkedIn use and passive LinkedIn use both significantly positively predicted informational benefits. Extraversion significantly strengthened the relationship between active use and informational benefits, and significantly weakened the relationship between passive use and informational benefits. Post-hoc analyses suggest posting status updates and sending messages have the strongest relationship with informational benefits gained from LinkedIn. Both active and passive use of LinkedIn can be used to increase social capital and evaluating your level of extraversion can help redirect your efforts to a usage strategy that’s more effective.