"On the Internet No One Knows I'm an Introvert": Extroversion, Neuroticism, and Internet Interaction

TLDR

Social communication is a primary driver of Internet use. The study investigates how user personality traits influence the perceived value of online versus face‑to‑face social interactions. Forty chat‑experienced participants completed questionnaires after an online session. Introverts and neurotics identify their authentic selves online, whereas extroverts and non‑neurotics do so in person, with implications for user‑network interaction and social phobia treatment.

Abstract

Social communication is one of the most common reasons for using the Internet. This paper examines how the personality characteristics of the user affect the meaning and importance of Internet social interaction in comparison with "real life," face-to-face interactions. Forty subjects all of whom were familiar with using "chat" participated in this study. After a at\" session, they were instructed to answer several questionnaires. It was found that introverted and neurotic people locate their "real me" on the Internet, while extroverts and nonneurotic people locate their "real me" through traditional social interaction. The implications of our results for understanding the user-net interaction, the "real-me" location, extroversion, neuroticism, and Internet interaction, and the treatment of social phobics are examined.