12 Things to Know About Teens, Technology and Romantic Relationships
Written By Savvy Auntie Staff Writers
By: Maya Listman
The results of the national Pew Research Center survey of teens ages 13 to 17 reveals how great a role technology plays in teen romantic relationships. Though the findings show that few teens go online or use apps or social media to meet romantic partners, these forms of media do play a heavy role in relationships once sparked.
Some key findings from the research include:
Relatively few American teens have met a romantic partner online.
Social media is a top venue for flirting.
Digital flirting has “entry-level” and more sophisticated elements for teens, depending on the nature of the relationship and their experience with virtual flirting strategies.
Girls are more likely to be targets of uncomfortable flirting tactics.
Social media helps teen daters to feel closer to their romantic partner, but also feeds jealousy and uncertainty.
Boys are a bit more likely than girls to view social media as a space for emotional and logistical connection with their significant other.
Teen daters like being able to publicly demonstrate their affection and show support for others’ romantic relationships. Yet they also find it allows too many people to be involved in their personal business.
Many teens in romantic relationships expect daily communication with their significant other.
Texting, voice calls and in-person hanging out are the main ways teens spend time with their significant others.
Teens consider the text message breakup to be socially undesirable, but a sizeable number of teens with relationship experience have been broken up with — or have broken up with others — using text messaging.
Relatively small numbers of teen daters engage in potentially controlling or harmful digital behavior to a partner or ex-partner.
A small share of teen daters have experienced potentially abusive or controlling behavior by a current or former partner.
How teens integrate technology into their relationships is something all adults with teens in their life should understand. Without a doubt, this research can help the ConfidAunt talk to her nieces and nephews about their relationships with more confidence.
Photo: monkeybusinessimages
Published: October 6, 2015