Relationships

Digital media are excellent tools for forging and maintaining healthy and safe relationships. For example, 82% of social-networking teens say they use these sites to stay in touch with friends they rarely see in person.[1] Another study reports that time spent on Facebook facilitates offline interactions. [2]

As with all tools, how we use them determines whether they provide positive opportunities or expose us to risk. Media can either enhance relationships, supporting positive growth or put users at risk.

Allow Constant Communication

This can support positive growth by . . . keeping youth connected to family and friends. Contact can be both logistically helpful and, in the long term, foster a sense of connection to important people in their lives.

This can put users at risk by . . . providing a venue where abusive “friends” might play out obsessive or controlling behaviors, such as excessive texting, constant phone calls, badgering, harassment, or other unhealthy behavior monitoring. Constant connection can also facilitate cyberbullying.

Facilitate Relationships

This can support positive growth by . . . gathering unique populations of people with similar interests who can foster growth. It can expand their perspectives and provide a sense of connection.

This can put users at risk by . . . exposing them to potentially hostile influences: deceptive people, harassment from other users, and unwanted content. It can also encourage an addiction to connected technology that might compete with time spent in real life.

Provide Virtual Communities

This can support positive growth by . . . offering access to virtual communities that support youth in their constructive interests. Virtual communities might include AP class study groups, music, theater, and other school groups. Virtual communities may also support them in seeking out help (eg suicide hotlines, drug preventions). Kids

This can put users at risk by . . . offering access to virtual communities that encourage harmful behaviors, like eating disorders, destructive attitudes, or hate organizations.

Have a conversation:

This is an area where tweens and teens will need mentoring from the adults in their lives. They may need encouragement to take a break from digital media or to report harassment (of themselves or others) or inappropriate contact.

Here are a few conversation starters for talking to kids and teens about how to use use their digital communications to help them maintain safe and healthy relationships while avoiding the risks:

1. How can your cell phone and online social media enhance your relationships?
2. How might these technologies hurt your relationships?
3. Have you ever felt pestered or overwhelmed by digital communication from a friend or boy/girlfriend?
4. Some students are pressured to send a sexually explicit text or photo. Has this happened to you? How can we handle these uncomfortable situations?

Related Issue Articles

The following articles give further information on topics related to Relationships:

Cyberbullying
Dating Violence: Using Technology to Prevent & Detect
Depression: Using Technology to Prevent & Detect
Drug and Alcohol Abuse: Using Technology to Prevent & Detect
Eating Disorders: Using Technology to Prevent & Detect
Online Gang Recruitment: Using Technology to Prevent &Detect
High-Risk Sexual Activity: Using Technology to Prevent & Detect
Mobile Phones
Pornography
Sexting
Sexual Violence: Using Technology to Prevent & Detect
Social Networking
Suicide & Self Harm: Using Technology to Prevent and Detect
Youth Violence: Using Technology to Prevent and Detect

RESOURCES AND LINKS

* Washington Times Article:“Social networking benefits validated”
* Science Daily Article:“Educational Benefits Of Social Networking Sites Uncovered”

WORKS CITED

1. “Social Networking Web Sites and Teens: an Overview.” Pew Internet & American Life Project, Jan 2007.
2. Wade C. Jacobsen, Renata Forste. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. -Not available-, ahead of print. doi:10.1089/cyber.2010.0135.