ABSTRACT
The study of peer relationships online and offline has evolved over time as connectivity has become ubiquitous in youths’ lives. This chapter begins with a review of early work (1990s to early 2000s), in which connectivity was slower and adolescents often used the internet to experiment with different identities, to meet new friends, and to stay in touch with friends and family who did not live nearby. We then move to more contemporary times, in which online connectivity and access have become faster, more affordable, and highly prevalent. As such, adolescents increasingly use digital spaces to interact with friends whom they know in person. Drawing from research on chatrooms, instant messaging, videogames, MySpace, Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram, this chapter discusses the dominant research questions from each period and the patterns of friendship online and offline. We conclude with areas for further enquiry, namely how adolescents use multiple platforms to develop and maintain friendships, individual differences in the use of digital platforms for friendship, social competence in digital spaces, and the use of digital platforms to develop and maintain transnational friendships.
