Should employees accept their boss's Facebook `friend' request? Examining gender and cultural differences

Authors

Katherine Karl, University of Tennessee - Chattanooga
Joy V. Peluchette, University of Southern IndianaFollow
Christopher Schlagel, Otto-von-Guericke-University

RIS ID

36733

Publication Details

Karl, K., Peluchette, J. V. & Schlagel, C. (2010). Should employees accept their boss's Facebook `friend' request? Examining gender and cultural differences. International Journal of Virtual Communities and Social Networking, 2 (3), 16-30.

Abstract

This study examines gender and cultural differences in reactions and responses to a Facebook ‘friend’ request from the boss. The auhtors found respondents were more likely to have positive (e.g., pleased, honored) reactions followed by questionable reactions (e.g., worried, suspicious) and least likely to have negative reactions (e.g., disgusted, offended). Although most respondents would accept the request, many would have reservations about doing so. Contrary to expectations, no gender differences were found. Significant cultural differences were found such that U.S. respondents were more likely than German respondents to have negative and questionable reactions and German respondents were more likely than U.S. respondents to have positive reactions. Implications and suggestions for future research are then discussed.