Poll Unravels Mystery of How People Decide to “Friend” or “Un-friend” on Facebook

NM Incite, the social media branch of the Nielson Polling and Research company has undertaken a massive study of the intricacies of "friending" and "un-friending" on Facebook, and has found that male and female modus-operandi is vastly different. For one thing, women are more likely to un-friend someone who sends them a rude comment or offensive message, whereas men are likely to dump a friend if they receive anything resembling a sales pitch, or things that are generally depressing.

To find out the answers to such questions as what causes people to friend or un-friend one another, Incite analyzed data from 1,865 Facebook and other social network users who were recruited from the Nielson Online Panel via online survey for the period March 31^st through April 14^th.

In analyzing the data, the research team found that the vast majority of women base their choice of who they will friend on people they know in the real world. This is likely the result of a protective shield mentality the develops, as women are far more likely to be approached for a variety of reasons, online, than are men, not the least of which is sexual propositioning. Men on the other hand, find themselves much more isolated on such sites unless they reach out to others that are also on such sites. Thus, the data shows that they are most likely to friend people based on how they look, or for possible business reasons.

In short order it becomes clear that for the most part, men get on social networking sites hoping to meet women or to make connections they hope will further their career, thus, it's all rather goal oriented. Women on the other hand seem to prefer using such sites to maintain already existing relationships or as a means to express themselves in creative ways.

The researchers also found that the vast majority of people marked as friends on sites such as Facebook arrived there due to there being an already existing relationship, or because someone they know friend-ed them first.

Finally, the research uncovered patterns in the way both genders use social media, and Facebook in particular regarding dating. Men for the most part apparently see such sites as a way to meet women, and possibly date them, or at the very least, have sex with them. Women on the other hand tend to use Facebook as a way to keep friends up to date on what's going on with their relationships.