Who benefits most from using social media, the socially rich or the socially poor?

Research has shown that some individuals benefit from using social media because it may help them to obtain social capital. This article questions who are most likely to benefit: the socially rich (i.e., individuals with a preference for social interaction, support, or without interpersonal problems) or the socially poor? It is hard to provide a definite answer to this question: Previous empirical studies have yielded mixed findings and were difficult to compare due to varying conceptualizations and analytic approaches. To better understand the complex interplay between individuals' social media use and social capital, we discuss the added value of within-person analyses and person-specific designs.