The Secrets of “Tree Hole”: Analysis of Online Interpersonal Interaction Based on @Tree Hole Account in Weibo

DOI

10.2991/assehr.k.211020.319How to use a DOI?

Keywords

“Tree Hole” accounts, online interaction, psychological motivation

Abstract

With the development of digital technology, online communication presents a trend of diversification and complication, making it critical to explore different forms of online interactions. This research explored “Tree Hole” phenomenon on Chinese social media with specific sample: @树洞 (Shu Dong, hereinafter referred to @Tree Hole), examining the psychological motivations of users who send private messages to @Tree Hole, as well as the features of this type of online interaction. Drawing on the theory of self-disclosure, dramaturgy, weak-tie, the study argued that individuals mainly take “Tree Hole” accounts as the safe field to release emotions through disclosing highly sensitive information, instead of establish relationships with each other. Thus, this interaction in @Tree Hole is a weak-tie without enough intimacy and closeness. The study showed how special online interaction environment and social reality have affected and shaped online interaction.

Copyright

© 2021, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press.

Open Access

This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Jing Hu
PY  - 2021
DA  - 2021/10/21
TI  - The Secrets of “Tree Hole”: Analysis of Online Interpersonal Interaction Based on @Tree Hole Account in Weibo
BT  - Proceedings of the 2021 International Conference on Public Relations and Social Sciences (ICPRSS 2021)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 1137
EP  - 1143
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.211020.319
DO  - 10.2991/assehr.k.211020.319
ID  - Hu2021
ER  -