Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Social Networking in Adolescents: Time, Type and Motives of Using, Social Desirability and Communication Choices

Version 1 : Received: 24 December 2021 / Approved: 27 December 2021 / Online: 27 December 2021 (11:24:06 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Tremolada, M.; Silingardi, L.; Taverna, L. Social Networking in Adolescents: Time, Type and Motives of Using, Social Desirability, and Communication Choices. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 2418. Tremolada, M.; Silingardi, L.; Taverna, L. Social Networking in Adolescents: Time, Type and Motives of Using, Social Desirability, and Communication Choices. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 2418.

Abstract

The evolution of digital media in adolescents has changed the patterns and motives of use and the impact on their communication choices in their social and family networks. The objectives of this study are to understand how peers communicate adopting a social network (SN) or by voice and their social desirability. After the informant consent signature, the adolescents completed a series of self-report questionnaires on the use of SN, on communication preferences, and on social desirability through online. Most of the adolescents belonged to the 17-19 age group (83.6%) and were female (68.9%). Adolescents spent more than 3 hours/day on Whatsapp and more than 2 hours/day on Instagram, while the use of Facebook was on average only 35 minutes/day. Females used digital media for longer than males. Adolescents aged 17-19 years choose more Facebook and voice modes compared to adolescents aged 14 and 16 years. The alternative modes of Whatsapp and voice were chosen more than the social networks in their communication strategies, especially for negative topics. Motives for use were, in addition to boredom, related to maintaining one's social sphere with peers. Some educative considerations were made based on these results.

Keywords

Social networking; adolescents; communication; motives of use; social desirability; gender differences; age differences

Subject

Social Sciences, Psychology

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