Adolescents and Trust in Online Social Interactions: A Qualitative Exploratory Study

Abstract

Social media have become increasingly embedded in adolescents’ daily lives. Although these contexts have been widely studied, how trust in online relationships is built among adolescents is still an unexplored issue. By adopting the theoretical socio-cognitive model of trust, this study aims to explore the components of online trust as far as today’s teenagers are concerned. The study involved 10 adolescents aged between 12 and 18 (M = 15.5). The data were collected using individual semi-structured, audio-recorded, and faithfully transcribed interviews. A deductive-inductive content analysis carried out with the NVivo10 software was performed on the textual material. Results show that adolescents seem to be aware of online trust value in “selecting” peers to be trusted. To protect themselves from the risks they are exposed to, they choose to interact with peers/friends who are already known in real life or are similar to them in terms of interests, ways of thinking, passions, and age. Additionally, others’ competencies and willingness play an important role in adolescents’ evaluations and decisions to rely on others online. The results of this study could be useful for developing awareness-raising interventions on the risks that adolescents are exposed to in order to promote “safe” relationships of trust and emphasize the possible positive use of technologies (e.g., by building online trust relationships using peer “safe” models).

Adolescents' motivation to use social network sites from a psychological needs perspective

“…Another important aspect of SNS use by young people is how they use them. A qualitative exploratory study on 10 adolescents between 12 and 18 showed that teens appeared conscious of choosing who they trust in online social interactions (Colì et al, 2023). The study revealed that adolescents tend to interact with peers they have already known in real life or online communities with which they identified similarities in interest, age, ways of thinking, and things they are passionate about (Colì et al, 2023).…”

“…During the developmental period, adolescents experience biological, psychological, and social changes that come with various developmental tasks, for example, developing personal identity, forming strong identification with peers, and establishing social autonomy (Christie & Viner, 2005). In general, past studies have discussed the interplays between SNS use and adolescents' psychosocial development, for example., identity development (Papacharissi, 2011;Spies Shapiro & Margolin, 2014;Valkenburg et al, 2005;Yang et al, 2022), and formation and maintenance of interpersonal relationships with peers or close others (Boyd, 2014;Colì et al, 2023;Davis, 2012;Spies Shapiro & Margolin, 2014).…”

“…A qualitative exploratory study on 10 adolescents between 12 and 18 showed that teens appeared conscious of choosing who they trust in online social interactions (Colì et al, 2023). The study revealed that adolescents tend to interact with peers they have already known in real life or online communities with which they identified similarities in interest, age, ways of thinking, and things they are passionate about (Colì et al, 2023). In contrast, a focus group study with UK adolescents suggested that adolescents who perceive SNS as different from face-to-face interactions are more likely to engage with strangers online (Gray, 2018).…”