Connected at any Cost: Adolescent Developmental Needs and Online Relationship Formation

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Author(s): Susan M. Miller (Kent State University, USA), Kenneth L. Miller (Youngstown State University, USA)and Christine Allison (Kent State University, USA)
Copyright: 2010
Pages: 19
Source title: Adolescent Online Social Communication and Behavior: Relationship Formation on the Internet
Source Author(s)/Editor(s): Robert Z. Zheng (University of Utah, USA), Jason Burrow-Sanchez (University of Utah, USA)and Clifford J. Drew (University of Utah, USA)
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-60566-926-7.ch004

Keywords: Cyber Behavior / Information Science Reference / Social Computing / Social Sciences & Humanities

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Abstract

The goal of this chapter is to explore the formation of online relationships in the dual contexts of adolescent cognitive and psychosocial development and characteristics of Internet communication technologies. Research revealed that teens use the Internet to support existing, offline relationships and that such use is associated with closer relationships. For those who form online relationships, these are viewed as close or even romantic in nature. However, when compared along various dimensions, online relationships demonstrate weaker ties than do offline relationships. In general, extroverted teens are more likely to form online relationships, although, if that is their purpose, so do introverted teens. Forming online relationships may rest with the teen’s awareness of how to present him or herself given the anonymity of the cue-free Internet environment.

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Connected at any Cost: Adolescent Developmental Needs and Online Relationship Formation

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