銀髮族網路交友動機之研究

Exploring the Motivations of the Senior in an Online Dating Site

現今社會開放，網路交友不只侷限於年輕適婚族群，55歲以上的銀髮族在網路交友也相當盛行，其網路交友動機若只依現有文獻作為推論基礎，將有失偏頗。目前學界與企業界對於銀髮族的議題皆集中於保健商品，然而銀髮族的社交生活、行為鮮少關注。故本研究採用「網路民族誌」，針對目前最大也是最多台灣銀髮族參與的交友網站－奇摩交友，進行參與動機之探索性研究，並藉由社會交換論深入詮釋其行為。研究結果發現有別於年輕族群，銀髮族初期參與網路交友動機分為三類型：終生學習、拓展生活圈、尋找伴侶。隨著時間的累積互動愈多產生緊密性愈深：大部份銀髮族從一開始的自我揭露與印象管理，逐漸建立其線上人際關係，更甚者積極舉辦現實生活聚會。

Previous studies on online dating sites mostly focused on single young people. It is not really single young people participate in online dating sites, but over 55 seniors also attend to them in today's open-minded society. We argue if based on previous studies of young people in online dating to analyze motivations and behaviors of the seniors will lead some bias to explore its insights. Nowadays, the academic and industries have focused on health-care products of the senior. However, the social relationships of the senior are barely paid attentions. The paper aims to explore what motivations do drive the Taiwanese senior to participate in an online dating site - http://yahoo.i-part.com.tw by employing 'Netnography' methods. Data analysis will be based on social exchange theory. The results found that as different from young people, there are three different motivations for the senior to early take part in online dating sites, including lifelong learning, extending their friendship, and looking for a partnership. Gradually, the more interactions occur, the more close relationships are built. The process of these three motivations is getting consistent from the beginning of exchanging image impression by self-disclosure to build up online social relationships, even to held offline union party.