The C2C commerce on the social networks: an analysis of groups on Facebook

Abstract

The Internet has been changing the social and trade relations over the time, as the birth of e-commerce.  Thus, it’s been responsible for the emergence of new business models, buyers and entrepreneurs. A change which has been consolidated through social media, where people have used the social networks not only to meet the needs to relate personally, but also to buy, sell and exchange products in such a fast way which has never been seen in web history before. This study aims to analyze how informal commercial transactions occurs in social media, into nine groups of sale and exchange between members of Rio Grande do Sul, especially in Canoas City and area, at Facebook space. This research is exploratory, descriptive with qualitative approach and method as the content analysis. Data collection was carried out through participant observation and document analysis of articles, journals and reports related to the subject. Ten thematic categories were found.  They reveal subjective and objective aspects of this type of trade.