IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/rfa/smcjnl/v14y2026i2p60-71.html

The Effect of Self-Disclosure Behaviors in Social Media on Peer Dynamics among University Students

Author

Listed:
  • Tak Jie Chan
  • Amania Reezayana Haris Zulkarnain
  • Adlyna Nailya Zamsury
  • Miew Luan Ng
  • Yuliyanto Budi Setiawan
  • Ming Hui Chen

Abstract

With the advancement of technology, self-disclosure has become a trend on social media platforms. Most previous studies have mainly focused on the breadth and depth of the disclosure, leaving gaps in its extension. Thus, this study aims to examine the effects of self-disclosure behaviors (breadth, depth, appropriateness, and intent) on the peer dynamics among university students by using Social Penetration Theory (SPT) as the underpinning theoretical framework. The study applied a quantitative survey method and gathered 175 valid respondents. The results showed that depth, appropriateness, and intent have a positive and significant impact on the peer dynamics; however, breath does not. This study contributed to the interpersonal communication scholarship by testing the extension of the SPT, which includes appropriateness and intent. The study provides implications for the educator, social media users, policy makers, and NGOs on advocating a safe digital environment and online interaction for self-disclosure on relationship maintenance and well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Tak Jie Chan & Amania Reezayana Haris Zulkarnain & Adlyna Nailya Zamsury & Miew Luan Ng & Yuliyanto Budi Setiawan & Ming Hui Chen, 2026. "The Effect of Self-Disclosure Behaviors in Social Media on Peer Dynamics among University Students," Studies in Media and Communication, Redfame publishing, vol. 14(2), pages 60-71, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:rfa:smcjnl:v:14:y:2026:i:2:p:60-71
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://redfame.com/journal/index.php/smc/article/download/7974/7145
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://redfame.com/journal/index.php/smc/article/view/7974
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Saleh Alwahaishi & Mohammad Saad Al-Ahmadi & Zulqurnain Ali & Ibrahim Al-Jabri, 2024. "Self-Disclosure on Social Media: Do Personality Traits Matter?," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(2), pages 21582440241, May.
    2. Md. Motaher Hossain & K. M. Zahidul Islam & Abdullah Al Masud & Md. Alamgir Hossain & Nusrat Jahan, 2023. "Antecedents and Consequences of Self-Disclosure in Subjective Well-Being: A Facebook Case With a Social Support Mediator," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(2), pages 21582440231, June.
    3. AlRabiah, Sara & Marder, Ben & Marshall, David & Angell, Rob, 2022. "Too much information: An examination of the effects of social self-disclosure embedded within influencer eWOM campaigns," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 93-105.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kim, Mikyoung & Jeong, Hyun Ju, 2025. "Crafting green influence: The role of self-disclosure and influencer type in generation Z’s Pro-environmental engagement," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    2. Andonopoulos, Vasiliki & Lee, Jenny (Jiyeon) & Mathies, Christine, 2023. "Authentic isn't always best: When inauthentic social media influencers induce positive consumer purchase intention through inspiration," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    3. Md. Abu Issa Gazi & Abdullah Al Masud & Mohammad Bin Amin & MD. Shakhawat Hossain & Refat Ferdous & Md. Al-Amin & Abdul Rahman S Senathirajah, 2026. "Unveiling the nexus: exploring the relationship of e-satisfaction, e-trust, and online repurchase intentions among students in a developing country," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, December.
    4. Mukendi, Amira & Davies, Iain & Glozer, Sarah & McDonagh, Pierre & Doherty, Anne Marie, 2026. "“I want to be honest…but how much can I share?”: Sustainable influencing and experiences of moral residue," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    5. Fan Wang & Brad D. Carlson, 2024. "Self-disclosure of content creators: A systematic review and holistic framework," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 14(3), pages 239-257, December.
    6. Bo-Chiuan Su & Li-Wei Wu & Hongxi Lin & Chieh-An Lin, 2023. "The Mediating Effect of Herd Behavior and Brand Attitude towards the Impact of Spokesman Credibility, Source Fit, and Online Word-of-Mouth on Purchase Intention," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-21, January.
    7. Jerum William Kilumile & Li Zuo & Johakim Katekele John, 2025. "How Influencer Content Credibility Drives Brand Co-creation: Do Social Presence and Consumers’ Psychological Well-being Matter?," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(3), pages 21582440251, August.
    8. Liu, Hongfei & Jayawardhena, Chanaka & Shukla, Paurav & Osburg, Victoria-Sophie & Yoganathan, Vignesh, 2024. "Electronic word of mouth 2.0 (eWOM 2.0) – The evolution of eWOM research in the new age," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:rfa:smcjnl:v:14:y:2026:i:2:p:60-71. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Redfame publishing (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/cepflch.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.