A Coconstructed World: Adolescent Self-Socialization on the Internet

Abstract

This article examines the ubiquitous Internet as a context for socialization for both younger and older adolescents. This research finds that the Internet adds dimensions to and takes away elements in the socialization process that have not been manifest in the same way in the past. The Internet serves as both an influence agent and an interactive context in which socialization and identity development takes place. The authors find that the lack of the usual adult socialization agents in this context challenges the more traditional view of adolescent socialization and results in a self-socialization process. The authors attempt to understand some of the more subtle practices of self-socializing and identity development that occur during adolescence by describing the interrelated themes that arose from the data, including (1) the online structure and context that supported this self-socialization, (2) adolescents' goals while online, (3) predominant socialization and identity development activities that they partake in, (4) negotiated norms of this online coconstructed world, (5) multiple identities related to their identity development, and (6) carryover to the offline world. By examining the confluence of these adolescents with the often "hot" context of Internet social space, this article demonstrates how self-socialization and the negotiated norm of deception and lying gives rise to both benefits and potentially risky behaviors.

Young consumers’ brand communications literacy in a social networking site context

“…For example, a number of authors (Clarke, Goodchild and Harrison, 2010;Willett, 2009;Boyd, 2007) have variously identified that young people (ranging in age from eight to 18 years) engage in SNS behaviours such as profile decoration and game-playing for the purposes of entertainment and the alleviation of boredom. The literature has also acknowledged that a key motivation is that of identity management (Anderson and McCabe, 2012;Stern, 2008;Willett, 2008). For example, Livingstone and Brake (2010) observe that teenagers' use of SNS is motivated by a wish to present a positive identity that wins the social validation of one's peers.…”

How National Culture and Parental Style Affect the Process of Adolescents’ Ecological Resocialization

“…Socialization in general refers to the introduction of children into an existing social group, enabling them to adopt approved behaviors and values [14]. If we consider environmental values, the social group into which adolescents are socialized may not actually be competent in this field-adolescents for many reasons (school, media, peers, Internet) may be more knowledgeable than their parents [4].…”

A meta‐analysis of parental style and consumer socialization of children

“…"processes by which young people acquire skills, knowledge, and attitudes relevant to their functioning as consumers in the marketplace" (Ward, 1980, p. 382). And while many potential agents, such as friends, other adults, or organizations, also participate in the socialization of children (Moschis & Churchill, 1978), including adaptation to the marketplace, parents are the primary socialization agents of children (Anderson & McCabe, 2012).…”