Youth and social capital: the role of online social networks

Ivana PaisUniversità Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

Milan, Italyivana.pais@unicatt.it

Social network/capital in job search

• Granovetter (1973): “strength of weak ties”• Coleman (1990): “appropriable social

organisations” How social networks influence behaviours of

networkers and how these individuals can use networks to pursue their specific aims?

• Burt (1992): “structural holes”• Lin (2001): “social resources”

However

• For youth strong social ties are more important as professional contact networks are not yet developed

• SC does benefit individual Jobseekers, but more so those who start with an advantage

• Inequalities are underlined and inefficiencies occur between offer and search

Internet job search

• IJS is a very low-cost job search method (Kuhnand Skuterud 2004)

• Online jobsearch is 20% more likely to have a positive result regardless of age, education, sex and length of time spent (Carlino 2011)

But

• Trade-off between quantity and quality of information (Fountain 2005, Marchal, Melletand Rieucau 2007)

• IJS gives 'added value' and does not replace traditional methods

• Digital divide (Fountain 2005; Kuhn and Skuterud 2004)

From web 1.0 to web 2.0

Age difference is a factor in internet use but has the usefacilitated job search?

Web 1.0 shows no change

Has web 2.0 opened new horizons?

Social network sites

• SNS are a web-based services that allow individuals to (1) construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, (2) articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and (3) view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system (Boyd and Ellison 2007)

• Social network sites as “intentional organisation” (Coleman)

Business social networks: an age-levelling service?

• “With these tools age differences do not exist. When you meet someone in person, age is something that affects the relationship, with LinkedIn the first impression is not based on age and even when you meet off line, age continues to be irrelevant” (man, temporary manager, 71 years old)

• “I dress in a way that makes me appear older, I have grown a beard for that reason. Be­cause otherwise you don’t work. Via internet you don’t need it” (man, entrepreneur, 22 years old)

• “Participants here tend to be more experienced, which is not linked to age, gender or ethnicity” (LinkedIn Q&A, man, consultant)

• “I can't say that I've even thought about it, so I'd say no. Social media is an equalizer in that respect; what matters is what you know, how you share, and the time you put into it” (LinkedIn Q&A, man, General Manager at Web Industries)

(Carini, Pais 2011)

THE ITALIAN SITUATION

Youth unemployment rates (15-24 ys)

Source: Eurostat 2011

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Unemployment rates Youth unemployment rates

EU27UKIT

Neet

0,0

5,0

10,0

15,0

20,0

25,0

30,0

From 15 to 19 years

From 20 to 24 years

From 25 to 29 years

From 30 to 34 years

European Union (27 countries)United Kingdom

Italy

Source: Eurostat 2010

University graduates

• Lower percentage of university graduates• Increase in numbers of unemployed• Drop in permanent jobs contracts• Lower salaries that don’t reflect cost of living

Methods used for seeking work

0,010,020,030,040,050,060,070,080,090,0

European Union (27 countries)United Kingdom

Italy

Source: Eurostat 2011Q3

Internet use and activities

0102030405060708090

frequently using the internet

participating in social

networks (facebook,

twitter, etc.)

participating in

professional networks (LinkedIn, Xing, etc.)

job search or sending

an application

European Union (27 countries)

United KingdomItaly

Internet use in Italy by age

Source: Istat 2011

0102030405060708090

1006-

10

11-1

4

15-1

7

18-1

9

20-2

4

25-3

4

35-4

4

45-5

4

55-5

9

60-6

4

65-7

4

>=75

internet

social network (Facebook, Twitter…)online job search

professional network (LinkedIn, Xing..)

“SOCIAL RECRUITING” IN ITALY

Survey

• Online survey carried out by Adecco Italy between November 2011 and January 2012

• 503 head hunters• 9.100 job seekers

Implications for practice and policy

• Social networks show great potential to buildweak ties no matter how little experience youhave

• For the moment this potential is unrealized• People need to learn ₺best use₺

– What platform is the best for my needs– How to maintain a certain level of privacy– Using the platform as a professional niche network