1-165 - Individual Differences in Adolescents’ use of Communication Technology

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

With many parents worried about the effects of technology on children’s health (APA, 2017), a call to developmental scientists has been made to understand the opportunities and risks of communication technologies. Applying co-construction theory to existing research, less evidence suggests that amount of technology use determines adolescent outcomes, but adolescents co-create their online environments based on their individual characteristics (Subrahmanyam, Smahel, & Greenfield, 2006). Yet, information is limited about adolescents’ individual differences in using communication technology. This symposium explores how motives and social, emotional, and intrapersonal factors shape adolescent technology use and content across multiple domains and communication media.
Our papers use diverse methodological approaches to further understanding of this important topic. The first longitudinally examines gender differences in how self-reported coping strategies map onto observed Facebook behaviors. The second analyzes how emotions, situations, and “fear of missing out” (FOMO) predict levels of text messaging. The third qualitatively explores how adolescents’ motives for posting, deletion, and censorship differ by social media use and gender. The fourth longitudinally examines the usage of fashionable social media networks (i.e., Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter) among popular-aggressive youth and how it is linked to rule breaking and academic achievement. Presenters address youths age 12-18 from diverse ethnic backgrounds with data from qualitative and quantitative investigations.
Taken together, our findings shed light on the importance of considering the complex nuances of adolescents’ communication technology use. Discussion will include implications of problematic, beneficial, and normative technology use and how results can inform parents and policy.

Sub Unit

• Technology, Media & Child Development

Chair

• Angela Calvin, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Individual Presentations

• Facebook Profiling: Gender differences in adolescents’ Facebook activity and coping strategies - Presenting Author: Madeleine George, University of Texas at Dallas; Non-Presenting Author: Justin William Vollet, University of Texas at Dallas; Non-Presenting Author: Kaitlyn Burnell, The University of Texas at Dallas; Non-Presenting Author: Allycen R Kurup, Purdue University; Non-Presenting Author: Marion K Underwood, Purdue University

• Texting Profiles and Fear of Missing Out in Early Adolescence - Presenting Author: Joanna C. Yau, University of California, Irvine

• Being Authentic vs. Pleasing Others: Adolescents’ Selective Self-Presentation on Social Media - Presenting Author: Angela Calvin, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Non-Presenting Author: B. Bradford Brown, University of Wisconsin-Madison

• Distinct Use of Social Media Platforms and Popular-Aggressive Status in Adolescence - Presenting Author: Annemarie Kelleghan, University of Southern California; Non-Presenting Author: Sarah T. Malamut, University of Southern California; Non-Presenting Author: Luiza Mali, University of Southern California; Non-Presenting Author: Skye Parral, University of Southern California; Non-Presenting Author: Tana Luo, University of California, San Diego; Non-Presenting Author: David Schwartz, University of Southern California