How Do Adolescents Use Social Networks and What Are Their Potential Dangers? A Qualitative Study of Gender Differences

Giulio de Felice, Jessica Burrai, Emanuela Mari, Fabrizio Paloni, Giulia Lausi, Anna Maria Giannini and Alessandro Quaglieri
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Giulio de Felice: Faculty of Literature and Philosophy, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Jessica Burrai: Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Emanuela Mari: Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Fabrizio Paloni: Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Giulia Lausi: Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Anna Maria Giannini: Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Alessandro Quaglieri: Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 9, 1-12

Abstract: The rapid development of software applications and the increasing use of the Internet have raised many questions about the impact of this technology on the lives of adolescents, especially on “digital natives.” The advent of social networks (SNs) restructures their relationships in various ways, affecting both adolescents’ development and mental health. The present study aims to investigate uses and dangers of SNs according to a sample of 296 (166 female and 130 male) Italian middle and high schools adolescents (age range 13–18) and build a model of how SNs can turn out to be dangerous. To achieve this, twenty-four audio-recorded focus groups of Italian male and female adolescents were investigated by a Grounded Theory approach, abstracting from the transcripts the main uses and dangers of SNs and proposing a final model for the interpretation of the whole set of categories. The results highlighted two main dangers of SNs: (a) the desperate search for popularity, and (b) the exhibition of violent or offensive behavior facilitated by the sense of protection and anonymity derived from being hidden behind a virtual account. Finally, a psychological model of how SNs can turn out to be dangerous is presented. This study could be useful in developing prevention procedures against the risks of SNs (e.g., cyberbullying, internet addiction) without demonizing the use of social media as such.

Keywords: social networks; adolescents; Grounded-Theory; haters; violence; gender differences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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