Role of play and playfulness in online user experience

Abstract

This study attempts to reveal the nature of the online social playfulness witnessed on FaceBook applications and its clones, which abound with applications difficult to define as "games" or "play." It attempts to fill in the gaps in current research on effect of online social playfulness and its associated outcomes on affective communication and social presence. Data was collected through online questionnaire to study 1) the role of social context in triggering online social playfulness on social networking sites, 2) the role of online playfulness in affect communication, and 3) the role of play applications in encouraging social interaction. The findings indicated that the presence of close social ties, such as family and friends, promote the experience of social playfulness. It was also found that the social games and the other play applications supporting intimate forms of physical spontaneity support communication of positive affect at different levels. Findings also supported that playful interaction on online social networks leads to generation of goodwill and trust amongst the participants. The posts and feeds, as an outcome of this playfulness, were found to support social presence and aid social interaction.