Friending instructors on Facebook: Exploring the role of privacy on student-instructor connection on cyberspace

In the new media era, students and instructors are able to connect and interact with each other via various social network sites (SNS) like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. When offered with the connection opportunity, which factor would predict students' decision of connection? A survey conducted among three hundred and fifty students (N = 350) indicated students who were commonly active on SNS had a tendency to stay close with their instructors socially on the cyberspace. It is also found that once the professional relationship between the students and the instructors ended, students were more likely to connect with their instructors online. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.