ABSTRACT
In Chapter 3 we set the groundwork for the “whats” and “whys” of teen online sociality. “Whats” referring to what social network sites teens are using, whereas the “whys” include discussions around why these sites are appealing from the perspective of teens – all realities side-lined by frequent societal focus on darker areas of risk and crime. We begin here because, for teens, the medium of connection and identification is online; it is where they seek and establish their visibility and identity through social connection. We show that online behaviors, including internet “addiction,” need to be situated within this broader social framework, especially given the salience of offline peer networks. In addition to questions about why teens prefer certain social media, we ask questions about their frequency of use, and if they feel themselves to be “addicted” based on their own interpretations of addiction. The overwhelming response links addiction through a fear of missing out and anxiety over social acceptance of offline peers. Participants thus stressed the importance and multifaceted use of technology, not only for socializing but school work and accessing information.
