| The majority of adolescents in our society use the internet every day, primarily to maintain relationships with people they already know. However, a small portion of the population also uses the internet to connect with people they have never met before. Because peer relationships are an important part of adolescent development it is important to understand why an adolescent would choose to seek out a relationship with someone they have never met and conduct said relationship through the internet. This study used a phenomenological approach to interview young adult participants who developed online friendships during their adolescence. The interview focused on the experience of having the friendship, developing the friendship, and the motivation for the friendship. The results of the interviews show these participants found the friendships to be fulfilling and supportive. However, participants stated they were not adequate replacements for face to face relationships, but were viable alternatives that for some facilitated development of social and emotional skills. These results showed adolescents can utilize online friendships as a source of social support during the adolescent development process. |
