Online maintenance of life domains: Uses of social network sites during graduate education among the US and international students

•Geographic origin was a significant predictor of number of friends.•International students had significantly fewer social network site friends.•Geographic origin was not a significant predictor of social network site use for socializing.

Students who pursue graduate degrees often do so under the burden of great geographic displacement. This study takes a uses and gratifications approach to examining the usage of Social Networking Sites (SNS) by both American and international graduate students studying at an American university. Specifically, it examines how SNS are used in relationship maintenance with friends and family, news consumption from one’s home state or country, political expression, and social and political transition to one’s new home. Our findings suggest that geographic and physical displacements do not always influence students in maintaining relationships via social media.