A study in the International Journal of Knowledge and Learning has looked at how individual personality traits influence how much users disclose personal information on social networking sites. Self-disclosure, revealing personal details to others, is generally considered a key component of online social networking interaction.
Understanding what motivates people to share in this way could help platform providers improve the user experience and engagement. The work might also have applications in psychology, social media studies, but perhaps also it could ultimately benefit the bottom-line for the platforms.
Nam Tien Duong of Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance, Vietnam, has looked at the intersection of personality, self-presentation, and social networking behaviour. He found that social network users are driven by specific interpersonal needs that shape how much they reveal about themselves. These needs, grounded in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, emphasize the social and emotional drive for connection and affection. Social networking platforms have offered us a unique space to meet these needs through active self-expression online.
The research has drawn on two primary interpersonal needs that shape behaviour: the need for belonging and the need for self-presentation. The need for belonging involves the desire to connect with others and feel recognized, while the need for self-presentation is about managing the image we project to others. The study emphasizes that self-presentation plays an important part in motivating self-disclosure, though its impact varies depending on an individual’s personality traits, particularly extraversion and narcissism.
Extraversion refers to a person’s tendency to seek out social interaction and enjoy group activities. According to the findings, individuals with high levels of extraversion are more likely to disclose personal information. Their enthusiasm for engaging with others translates into a greater willingness to share personal details. In contrast, introverts, who are less inclined toward social interactions, tend to disclose less about themselves, even when they may still have a strong desire for social inclusion.
Another personality trait that significantly influences self-disclosure is narcissism. Narcissists, who possess a strong desire for admiration and validation, often share more personal information to highlight their perceived individuality. This behaviour is driven by a need to garner attention and reinforce their sense of self-importance, which stands in contrast to those who may share less for more intimate or relational reasons.
Duong, N.T. (2025) ‘Why do people disclose themselves on social networking sites? Evidence from Vietnamese Facebook users’, Int. J. Knowledge and Learning, Vol. 18, No. 2, pp.186–203.