Teenagers and online freindships


“For teens, the internet is a natural communication environment in which they spend a great deal of their leisure time” (Carlsson, 2006).

There is a definite generation gap between teenagers and older adults when it comes to establishing and maintaining friendships online. Communication researchers are trying to see if online friendships are different from face to face friendships or if they are similar. In a recent study, it was found that teenagers are linked to at least one of their five best friends online thru some sort of social networking site or email (Bukowski, Hoza, & Boivin, 1994, para. 3). Also in this study it was found that the teens did not need to have high computer skills or accessibility to computers. Teenagers who have an online friend also participate in fewer activities outside of the home compared to those who do not participate in social networking sites.

I am currently subscribed to MySpace and Facebook. These two social networking sites are good to keep up with family and friends. All the friends that I have on these social networking sites are my friends face to face. However having contact with them on these websites is helpful because it is easier to keep up with each other without having to call each other every day. It is also great for posting and sharing pictures. I am not a teenager by any means but I do find that social networking online can be very helpful in maintaining established relationships.


Photo Source: farm1.static.flickr.com

http://telem-pub.openu.ac.il/users/chais/2009/after_noon/2_6.pdf
(Bukowski, Hoza, & Boivin, 1994)
Friendship in Cyberspace: A New Form of Interpersonal Communication?