The Need for Popularity and Facebook Usage Among Czech and Polish Young Adults

The goal of this study was to determine the preferences concerning Facebook usage by university students in Poland and the Czech Republic regarding their gender and nationality. This study aimed also to discover the relation between the need to be popular on Facebook and three key factors: the number of Facebook friends, activity on Facebook and perceived enjoyment during this activity. To get necessary data, multiple research tools were developed – a questionnaire consisting of four sections and a 12-item questionnaire measuring the level of the need for popularity. Results show that there is no significant differences in the background of Facebook usage between Polish and Czech students. However, there is a statistically significant correlation between the need for popularity and two factors: the number of friends (r = .501) and the level of perceived enjoyment in using Facebook (r = .401). The results suggest that participants feel pleasure while undertaking different actions on Facebook and treat Facebook as a way to increase their perceived popularity.