Study: “In Real Life” Streaming Can Be A Meaningful Way to Experience Social Presence and Community with Others

A new study on “In Real Life” (IRL) streaming has found that community identification is associated with different dimensions of social presence derived from the streamers and other viewers. The findings by Yu-Hao Lee, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Media Production, Management, and Technology associate professor, and National Taiwan University (NTU) Associate Professor Chien Wen (Tina) Yuan and NTU Assistant Professor Nanyi Bi were published in “Investigating Social Presence in ‘In Real Life’ Streaming and Community Building’ published online in New Media & Society on June 12.

The authors studied IRL streams, which allow people to share their lives in real time and have become a popular form of entertainment and a meaningful way for people to experience social presence and community with others.

According to the authors, “Our study focuses on IRL streams to investigate how the multiple dimensions of social presence (cognitive copresence, psychological involvement, and behavioral interdependence) with the streamers and other viewers are associated with community identification.”

They add, “Our study found that community identification is associated with different dimensions of social presence derived from the streamers and other viewers. Specifically, cognitive copresence was not sufficient to evoke a sense of community. Psychological involvement with the streamers and behavioral interdependence with other viewers were significantly associated with the participants’ community identification.”

Posted: June 13, 2023
Category: College News
Tagged as: "In Real Life" streaming, Yu-Hao Lee