Who will rule social networking? Introverts or extroverts?

Do you change when you go on line?

Being an introvert, I am naturally quiet and choose to withdraw from large social groups, so you'd think that social networks would be a haven for me. But I don't use social networking sites very much, I actually forgot both my email and password for Facebook about two years ago as I just wasn't using it. From my own personal experience with social networks, I saw social networks be taken over by extroverts and was probably why I stopped using them as often. But lately I was wondering if people just act as extroverts on line because the anxiety of face-to-face conversation is removed. I mean, its not a stupid question to ask is it? In fact, many people could be labelled as an offline introvert, on-line extrovert. And it would explain why so many people who are usually very guarded with personal information or opinions in the real world, to then post all this private information without even thinking.

I take it this person wasn't thinking when he posted this

 'You just put into words what I was thinking! Social media gave those of us that 30 years ago would have had jobs in a back room somewhere a way to communicate with confidence. But like you said, the problem arises when we step back into the real world and don’t live up to expectations of being the person we’ve allowed everyone to see on line.

(I could never say what I just said in a room full of people)'

                               -March 2, 2012 at 10:49 am
                               http://www.mackcollier.com/why-introverts-love-social-media/



Is this why social networks are so popular now-a-days? As they appeal to people who prefer to be alone to communicate in a way that suits them? I mean if your going to create an invention that promotes social interactions and communication of course extroverts are going to be all over it, they don't even need something to talk about to talk (as by definition) just give them the tools to do so and they will get at it. But introverts prefer to be alone then to socialise with a bunch of acquaintances whom they don't know very well (as it gets quite exhausting after a while), so social networking sites actually remove the exhausting element of socialising because you don't have to make the effort to open your mouth and make words come out, making social networks convenient for introverts as well as extroverts. Which explains the popularity of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter because they appeal to such a wide audience.