A shift from offline to online: Adolescence, the internet and social participation

ABSTRACT

Adolescents’ social participation is increasingly taking place in virtual settings, including social media, but there is no longer a distinct boundary between online and offline social participation. Furthermore, online social participation is becoming a societal concern, with internet use identified as impacting social and emotional well-being. This qualitative descriptive study explored the occupational nature of online social participation amongst Irish adolescents aged 9-16 years old. Data were collected through three focus groups. Four themes that captured the nature of the Internet as a setting for social participation were identified: a) building relationships and connections, b) identity experimentation and construction, c) cyber culture and virtual norms, and d) overuse and unsociable behaviour. The study provides insights into how adolescents experience and organise their social occupations in online settings and how these unfold into offline ‘reality’. While online social participation expands social experiences and connections, face-to-face experiences were more valued. There is an imperative to research online-offline social participation to develop a broader understanding of this evolving, contemporary occupation.

青少年的社会参与越来越多地发生在虚拟环境，包括社交媒体，但不再存在着线上和线下社会参与之间的明显界限。此外，网上社会参与正在成为社会关注点，互联网使用被认为影响社会和情感健康。该定性描述性研究探讨年龄在9-16岁的爱尔兰青少年网络社会参与的休闲性质。资料通过三个焦点小组而收集。确定了四个表现互联网作为社交参与的环境的性质的主题：a）建立关系和联系，b）身份的试验和建立，c）网络文化和虚拟规范，以及d）过度使用和孤僻行为。这项研究提供了对青少年如何在网上体验并组织社交休闲以及如何将其扩展至下线“现实”的深入了解。虽然网上社交参与可以扩大社会经验和联系，面对面的社交经历更有价值。我们迫切需要研究线上-线下社交参与，使我们更广泛地了解这一不断发展的现代休闲。

KEYWORDS:

• occupational development
• identity
• cyberspace