Logging on, bouncing back: An experimental investigation of online communication following social exclusion

Amid concerns about the risks posed to adolescent safety and well-being by online communication with strangers, little empirical attention has been given to the psychological functions of such behavior. This study tested the hypothesis that online communication with an unknown peer facilitates recovery from the acute aversive effects of social exclusion. Further, it sought to identify the social and psychological processes underlying recovery. Seventy-two young adults (mean age = 18.4 yr) and fifty-one adolescents (mean age = 12.5 yr) were randomly assigned to undergo a standardized laboratory induction of either social inclusion or exclusion, followed by a 12 min computer activity involving either communication with an unfamiliar other-sex peer, or solitary game play. It was predicted that previously excluded participants would exhibit better recovery of their self-esteem, affect, and perceived relational value following contact with an unknown peer versus enjoyable but non-social game play. On the whole, results were consistent with predictions. As compared to solitary game play, instant messaging with an unfamiliar peer facilitated greater replenishment of self-esteem and perceived relational value among previously excluded adolescents and young adults. Among adolescent participants, online communication also resulted in greater reduction of negative affect. An unexpected dissociation was observed in the effect of online communication on positive versus negative recovery in the young adult sample. Online communication was more effective than solitary game play in replenishing young adults' self-esteem and perceived relational value; however, it was not more effective in easing their recovery from negative affect. Exploratory mediational analyses suggest that this finding may be accounted for by the hostile interpersonal tendencies of the young adults upon whom social exclusion exerted a ore negative affective impact---a tendency not observed among adolescent participants. In addition to confirming the utility of the Cyberball ball-tossing task to manipulate social exclusion with an adolescent sample, these findings offer insight into the potentially protective functions of online communication, and thus have implications for policy concerning youth access to online communication media.