It has been suggested that personality factors are related to an individuals’ use of social networking sites
(SNSs). The present research explores the relationships between the Big Five Personality factors, narcissism,
self-esteem, and sensation seeking and individuals’ use of specific features of SNS. Self-reports were
collected from 265 SNS users from a university in China. Regression analyses revealed that personality
factors play an important role in how SNS are used. Specifically, extraverts are more likely to use the communicative
function of SNS including status update, comment, and adding more friends. Neurotic are
more likely to use the feature of status update as a way of self-expression. Agreeable individuals tend
to make more comments on others’ profiles. Individuals with high self-esteem are more likely to comment
on others’ profiles. Users scoring high on openness and sensation seeking are more likely to play
online games on SNS. Narcissistic users are more likely to upload their attractive photos on SNS and tend
to use update status more frequently for self-presentation. Gender also played an important role in predicting
types of SNS use. Males reported more SNS friends and were more likely to play online games than
were females, who were more likely to upload self-photos and update their status.