Social Networking Social Networking Sites and the Sites and the AdolescentAdolescentBy Nancy MarriottBy Nancy Marriott

EPR 611/Adolescent EPR 611/Adolescent PsychologyPsychology

Adolescent Use of Adolescent Use of Social Networking Social Networking

SitesSitesWho’s OnlineWho’s Online

Where They GoWhere They Go

What They DoWhat They Do

Who They Connect WithWho They Connect With

How Do We Protect ThemHow Do We Protect Them

The Rise of Internet UseThe Rise of Internet Use

The U.S. population estimate for 2010 The U.S. population estimate for 2010 is 310,232,863is 310,232,863

77.3% (239,893,600) of the population 77.3% (239,893,600) of the population use the Internetuse the Internet

93% of all teens aged 12 -17 use the 93% of all teens aged 12 -17 use the InternetInternet

93% of all young adults aged 18 - 29 93% of all young adults aged 18 - 29 use the Internetuse the Internet

Some Recent StatisticsSome Recent Statistics

Significant IncreasesSignificant Increases2000 -20092000 -2009

Teen Internet use Teen Internet use rose from 74% to rose from 74% to 93%93%

Young adult (18 – 29 Young adult (18 – 29 yrs. old) Internet use yrs. old) Internet use rose from 73% to rose from 73% to 93%93%

Internet use for all Internet use for all adults rose from 53% adults rose from 53% to 74%to 74%

How Are Adolescents Using How Are Adolescents Using the Internet? the Internet?

Social NetworkingSocial Networking

Information GatheringInformation Gathering

Video/Content SharingVideo/Content Sharing

Chat forumsChat forums

E-MailE-Mail

GamingGaming

Online PurchasingOnline Purchasing

Social Networking at the Social Networking at the ForefrontForefront

Adolescents use social networking sites far Adolescents use social networking sites far more than any other tool available on the more than any other tool available on the internet.internet.

Ninety-six percent of teens ages nine to Ninety-six percent of teens ages nine to seventeen who have internet access use seventeen who have internet access use social networking tools.social networking tools.

Teens spend almost as much time using social Teens spend almost as much time using social networking sites as they spend watching networking sites as they spend watching television.television.

Popular Teen Social Popular Teen Social Networking SitesNetworking Sites

Social Networking Social Networking SiteSite

% of Teens that % of Teens that Have a Profile and Have a Profile and

Use ItUse It

% of Teens that % of Teens that Have/Had a Profile Have/Had a Profile but Stopped Using but Stopped Using

ItIt

1. Facebook1. Facebook 69%69% 9%9%

2. YouTube2. YouTube 64%64% 15%15%

3. MySpace3. MySpace 41%41% 22%22%

4. Twitter4. Twitter 20%20% 15%15%

5. Windows Live 5. Windows Live SpacesSpaces

16%16% 7%7%

6. Pandora6. Pandora 15%15% 6%6%

7. Gaia Online7. Gaia Online 14%14% 13%13%

8. Club Penguin8. Club Penguin 13%13% 24%24%

9. Bebo9. Bebo 5%5% 10%10%

10. Hi510. Hi5 4%4% 5%5%

Top Teen Social SitesTop Teen Social Sites

What Do Teens Do on What Do Teens Do on Social Networking Sites?Social Networking Sites?

Connect with current friends to deepen Connect with current friends to deepen and extend relationshipsand extend relationships

Discuss education related topics and Discuss education related topics and collaborate with others about educational collaborate with others about educational projects and creative activitiesprojects and creative activities

Reach out to others with similar interestsReach out to others with similar interests Make new friendsMake new friends Access information and seek adviceAccess information and seek advice

Benefits of Social Benefits of Social Networking SitesNetworking Sites

1. An intimate atmosphere where teens connect and 1. An intimate atmosphere where teens connect and discuss personal issues in positive waysdiscuss personal issues in positive ways

2. A social outlet for isolated/disenfranchised teens2. A social outlet for isolated/disenfranchised teens

3. A wider network of peers with common interests3. A wider network of peers with common interests

4. Social networking sites encourage identity 4. Social networking sites encourage identity developmentdevelopment

5. A place to seek advice and information from other 5. A place to seek advice and information from other teens who are facing health issues or social teens who are facing health issues or social problemsproblems

6. Emotional support from peers6. Emotional support from peers

Creative/Educational Creative/Educational Benefits of Social Benefits of Social Networking SitesNetworking Sites

Teens share self-created writing, art, Teens share self-created writing, art, photography, video and music with their photography, video and music with their peers.peers.

Students collaborate on school projects and Students collaborate on school projects and discuss school assignments.discuss school assignments.

Adolescents explore academic subjects Adolescents explore academic subjects with classmates as well as students from with classmates as well as students from other schools, cities and countries.other schools, cities and countries.

Students discuss college planning, learning Students discuss college planning, learning outside of school, and careers.outside of school, and careers.

Potential Dangers of Social Potential Dangers of Social NetworkingNetworking

Exposure to harassment and bullyingExposure to harassment and bullying Exposure to sexual advances and Exposure to sexual advances and

inappropriate sexual behaviorinappropriate sexual behavior Teens may become targeted by Teens may become targeted by

pedophilespedophiles Identity theftIdentity theft Displaying personal and/or risky Displaying personal and/or risky

behaviors in a public forum behaviors in a public forum

Cyber-bullying and Cyber-bullying and AdolescentsAdolescents

Cyber-bullying Can Cyber-bullying Can Take Many FormsTake Many Forms

Publicizing private instant Publicizing private instant messages, text messages, messages, text messages, or e-mailor e-mail

Posting threatening Posting threatening messagesmessages

Posting photos that will Posting photos that will cause embarrassmentcause embarrassment

Spreading rumorsSpreading rumors

Teens and On-Line Teens and On-Line PredatorsPredators

Adolescents may disclose Adolescents may disclose too much personal too much personal information.information.

Vulnerable teens may Vulnerable teens may engage in conversations engage in conversations with strangers posing as with strangers posing as other teens.other teens.

Online romances develop Online romances develop in isolation, allowing the in isolation, allowing the pedophile an opportunity pedophile an opportunity to gain trust, personal to gain trust, personal information, and possible information, and possible physical access to teens.physical access to teens.

How Can We Protect How Can We Protect Them?Them?

1. Make sure computers are located in 1. Make sure computers are located in common areas of the house.common areas of the house.

2. Monitor your teens and the sites 2. Monitor your teens and the sites they visit.they visit.

3. Educate your adolescent about 3. Educate your adolescent about internet safety rules.internet safety rules.

4. Talk to teens about cyber-bullying 4. Talk to teens about cyber-bullying and encourage them to talk to you.and encourage them to talk to you.

5. Encourage teens to use an alias on 5. Encourage teens to use an alias on social networking sites.social networking sites.

6. Find out what privacy protections 6. Find out what privacy protections are available and use themare available and use them..

ReferencesReferencesLenhart, A., Purcell, K., Smith, A., & Zickuhr, K. (2010). Social media and Lenhart, A., Purcell, K., Smith, A., & Zickuhr, K. (2010). Social media and

young adults. young adults. Pew Internet: A Project of the Pew Research Center’s Pew Internet: A Project of the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project. Internet and American Life Project. Available at Available at www.pewinternet.orgwww.pewinternet.org

Mitchell, K. J. & Ybarra, M. (2009). Social networking sites: Finding a Mitchell, K. J. & Ybarra, M. (2009). Social networking sites: Finding a balance between their risks and benefits. balance between their risks and benefits. Archives of Pediatric & Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent MedicineAdolescent Medicine, 163 (1), 87-89., 163 (1), 87-89.

Moreno, M. A., Parks, M. R., Zimmerman, F. J., Brito, T. E., & Christakis, Moreno, M. A., Parks, M. R., Zimmerman, F. J., Brito, T. E., & Christakis, D. A. (2009). Display of health risk behaviors on MySpace by D. A. (2009). Display of health risk behaviors on MySpace by adolescents. adolescents. Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent MedicineArchives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, 163 (1), 27-, 163 (1), 27-34.34.

Tynes, B. M. (2007). Internet safety gone wild? Sacrificing the educational Tynes, B. M. (2007). Internet safety gone wild? Sacrificing the educational and psychosocial benefits of online social environments. and psychosocial benefits of online social environments. Journal of Journal of Adolescent ResearchAdolescent Research, 22 (6), 575-584. doi:10.1177/0743558407303979, 22 (6), 575-584. doi:10.1177/0743558407303979

Wolak, J., Finkelhor, D., Mitchell, K. J., & Ybarra, M. L. (2008). Online Wolak, J., Finkelhor, D., Mitchell, K. J., & Ybarra, M. L. (2008). Online predators and their victims: Myths, realities, and implications for predators and their victims: Myths, realities, and implications for prevention and treatment. prevention and treatment. American PsychologistAmerican Psychologist, 63 (2), 111-128. doi: , 63 (2), 111-128. doi: 10.1037/0003-066x63.2.11110.1037/0003-066x63.2.111