Adolescents’ Online Communication Practices in a Digital World

Social interaction with peers is a crucial developmental need in adolescence. Social media have significantly transformed the way many adolescents communicate with one another, lowering barriers for them to connect at any time, from anywhere. Three important modalities of their online communication are direct messaging, video-mediated communication, and social gaming. This chapter discusses how these modalities are used by adolescents, the social mechanisms that underlie their motivation to use them, possible positive and negative implications for their peer relationships, and the critical role online communication can play in the well-being of marginalized youth. Among other things, the chapter shows that, while the ability to disclose information and connect online can support most adolescents’ social needs, digital communication may also enable negative interactions, such as cyberbullying. The chapter concludes that online communication can be an important source of social and emotional support, especially when in-person contact is unavailable. Future research should investigate the ways in which social media can support adolescents’ development of social and emotional competence. Implications for practice include the need for stakeholders to be aware of the opportunities and risks associated with different modalities and to support adolescents’ safe and healthy use.