Social stratification and social media disengagement. The effect of economic, cultural and social capital on reasons for non-use of social media platforms

Abstract

Much of the current research on digital and social media practices uses a Bourdieusian framework to explain stratification processes in the digital realm. This approach typically focusses on social media platform users, neglecting the adequate study of non-users. In this paper, we analyse how cultural, economic and cultural capital are related to reasons non-users in Flanders give for not using social media. We find that access remains a significant obstacle for those with low levels of cultural, economic or social capital, while those with more capital tend to avoid social media over concerns about self-presentation. Education level (as a specific indicator of cultural capital) is also related to both technological skills and technophobia (fear of making mistakes), which are more important barriers for the lower educated. The higher educated also list privacy issues and a lack of time as impediments to social media participation. Implications for research on digital inequalities are discussed in the conclusion section.