The Role of Social Networking Sites in Early Adolescents' Social Lives

• Published in: The Journal of early adolescence Vol. 36; no. 3; pp. 348 - 371
• Main Authors: Antheunis, Marjolijn L, Schouten, Alexander P, Krahmer, Emiel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks SAGE Publications 01.04.2016; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adolescents; Anxiety; Correlation; Early Adolescents; Factor Analysis; Foreign Countries; Friendship; Grade 7; Grade 8; Hypothesis Testing; Interaction; Internet; Mass Media; Netherlands; Peer Relationship; Secondary School Students; Social Capital; Social Life; Social Media; Social Networks; Student Characteristics; Student Surveys; Surveys; Technology; Teenagers; Telecommunications; Netherlands
• ISSN: 0272-4316; 1552-5449
• DOI: 10.1177/0272431614564060

The aim of this study was to examine the role of social networking sites (SNSs) in early adolescents' social lives. First, we investigated the relation between SNS use and several aspects of early adolescents' social lives (i.e., friendship quality, bridging social capital, and bonding social capital). Second, we examined whether there are differences between SNS users and nonusers in terms of their social lives. Drawing on a survey among 3,068 early adolescents, results showed positive relations between SNS use and friendship quality, bridging social capital, and bonding social capital. Furthermore, we found positive effects of SNS membership on these social indicators. In sum, even though concerns have been voiced about a possible negative impact of SNS use on adolescents' social lives, we found no evidence of this. Results of this study show that the role of SNSs in early adolescents' social lives is positive at least concerning friendship quality, bridging social capital, and bonding social capital.