Expressions of Identity Online: Prominent Features and Gender Differences in Adolescents' World Wide Web Home Pages

Abstract

Despite the popularity of World Wide Web home pages among adolescents, we know little about their distinguishing features or utility. Accordingly, this article describes a content analysis of adolescents' pages, noting gender differences when appropriate. Results indicate that home pages are prominent places for adolescents to discuss themselves in textual and multimedia fashions. Authors signal their desire for an audience, and they self-disclose with varying degrees of intimacy. Gender differences are noticeable primarily with regard to substantive rather than stylistic components of home pages. The results suggest that home pages simulate and supplement traditional (offline) for a for adolescent communication.