A model for information behavior research on social live streaming services (SLSSs)

Abstract

Social live streaming services (SLSSs) are synchronous social media, which combine Live-TV with elements of Social Networking Services (SNSs) including a backchannel from the viewer to the streamer and among the viewers. Important research questions are: Why do people in their roles as producers, consumers and participants use SLSSs? What are their motives? How do they look for gratifications, and how will they obtain them? The aim of this article is to develop a heuristic theoretical model for the scientific description, analysis and explanation of users’ information behavior on SLSSs in order to gain better understanding of the communication patterns in real-time social media. Our theoretical framework makes use of the classical Lasswell formula of communication, the Uses and Gratifications theory of media usage as well as the Self-Determination theory. Albeit we constructed the model for understanding user behavior on SLSSs it is (with small changes) suitable for all kinds of social media.