Chosen or meant to be? A Study on the difference between opportunity-based and choice-based homogeneity on gender and socioeconomic status in Facebook networks

Abstract

This study examines whether the well-established principle that "birds of a feather flock together" holds true for online interactions, specifically in the context of Facebook networks. Using a sample of 1640 college students from a university in the United States, we investigate differences between opportunity-based and choice-based homogeneity within subgroups based on gender and socioeconomic status. Results show that the Facebook networks of individuals with a higher socioeconomic status are more homogeneous regarding major field of study than the Facebook networks of individuals with a lower socioeconomic status. In contrast to our expectations, results show that individuals with a lower socioeconomic status have a less homogeneous Facebook network based on the background characteristics of race and hometown region, and a more homogeneous Facebook network based on the characteristic of political viewpoint, as compared to individuals with a higher socioeconomic status. Moreover, differences between the sexes were not found in either opportunity-based or choice-based homogeneity. Based on the data obtained in this study, we conclude that online interactions are not structured by the same homophily principal found in offline networks. Future research should be aimed at acquiring greater insight into the specific mechanisms that structure friendships in online social networks.