scholarly journals Google for Sexual Relationships: Mixed-Methods Study on Digital Flirting and Online Dating Among Adolescent Youth and Young Adults (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Lykens ◽  
Molly Pilloton ◽  
Cara Silva ◽  
Emma Schlamm ◽  
Kate Wilburn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Young People ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Online Dating ◽  
Sexual Relationships ◽  
Relationship Building ◽  
Health Programs ◽  
Online Spaces ◽  
Sexual Exploration

BACKGROUND According to a 2015 report from the Pew Research Center, nearly 24% of teens go online almost constantly and 92% of teens are accessing the internet daily; consequently, a large part of adolescent romantic exploration has moved online, where young people are turning to the Web for romantic relationship-building and sexual experience. This digital change in romantic behaviors among youth has implications for public health and sexual health programs, but little is known about the ways in which young people use online spaces for sexual exploration. An examination of youth sexual health and relationships online and the implications for adolescent health programs has yet to be fully explored. OBJECTIVE Although studies have documented increasing rates of sexually transmitted infections and HIV among young people, many programs continue to neglect online spaces as avenues for understanding sexual exploration. Little is known about the online sexual health practices of young people, including digital flirting and online dating. This study explores the current behaviors and opinions of youth throughout online sexual exploration, relationship-building, and online dating, further providing insights into youth behavior for intervention opportunities. METHODS From January through December 2016, an exploratory study titled TECHsex used a mixed-methods approach to document information-seeking behaviors and sexual health building behaviors of youth online in the United States. Data from a national quantitative survey of 1500 youth and 12 qualitative focus groups (66 youth) were triangulated to understand the experiences and desires of young people as they navigate their sexual relationships through social media, online chatting, and online dating. RESULTS Young people are using the internet to begin sexual relationships with others, including dating, online flirting, and hooking up. Despite the fact that dating sites have explicit rules against minor use, under 18 youth are using these products regardless in order to make friends and begin romantic relationships, albeit at a lower rate than their older peers (19.0% [64/336] vs 37.8% [440/1163], respectively). Nearly 70% of youth who have used online dating sites met up with someone in person (44.78% [30/67] under 18 vs 74.0% [324/438] over 18). Focus group respondents provided further context into online sexual exploration; many learned of sex through pornography, online dating profiles, or through flirting on social media. Social media played an important role in vetting potential partners and beginning romantic relationships. Youth also reported using online dating and flirting despite fears of violence or catfishing, in which online profiles are used to deceive others. CONCLUSIONS Youth are turning to online spaces to build sexual relationships, particularly in areas where access to peers is limited. Although online dating site use is somewhat high, more youth turn to social media for online dating. Sexual relationship-building included online flirting and online dating websites and/or apps. These findings have implications for future sexual health programs interested in improving the sexual health outcomes of young people. Researchers may be neglecting to include social media as potential sources of youth hookup culture and dating. We implore researchers and organizations to consider the relationships young people have with technology in order to more strategically use these platforms to create successful and youth-centered programs to improve sexual health outcomes.

Symbols and investments as signals: Courtship behaviors in adolescent sexual relationships

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Paik ◽  
Vernon Woodley
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Sexual Intercourse ◽  
Sexual Relationships ◽  
Relationship Building ◽  
Selection Effects ◽  
Structural Effects ◽  
National Longitudinal Study ◽  
Recursive Bivariate Probit ◽  
Game Theoretic ◽  
Courtship Behaviors

Both structural and cultural arguments suggest that extensive relationship-building behaviors are a precursor to the onset of sexual intercourse. This research develops and tests a game-theoretic signaling framework, which suggests that the association between courtship behaviors and the onset of sexual intercourse should reflect selection effects. To test this framework empirically, this research utilized the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (1994–1996) and estimated probit and recursive bivariate probit models of sexual intercourse. The results showed support for the signaling framework. Extensive use of courtship behaviors was associated with sexual intercourse, but this association reflected the effects of selectivity. However, extensive courtship was more associated with sexual intercourse when adolescents did not know one another well prior to the start of their romantic relationships. These findings suggest that selectivity associated with signaling theory can complement models of cultural influence and structural effects.

scholarly journals Influence of social media for sexuality of adolescents

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M A Sousa ◽  
P A Oliveira ◽  
M D O Lima ◽  
M I F Freitas
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Young People ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Social Representations ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
School Students ◽  
Belo Horizonte

Abstract Background Adolescence is a phase of life of great emotional, cognitive, social and body changes. Also noteworthy are the changes related to the emotional relationship between young people and sexuality. Recent research indicates that the use of Social Media (MS) has increased dramatically among adolescents in the last 10 years, and they have a tendency to seek information on health, sexual health and STIs including AIDS in these media. Objective To understand the influences of social media for sexual health and sexuality in adolescents. Methods This is a research with a qualitative approach, based on the Theory of Social Representations. The study included 28 adolescents aged between 15 and 18 years old, high school students from two public schools in Belo Horizonte. Data collection took place through open and in-depth interviews, with a semi-structured script. The data were interpreted based on the Structural Analysis of the Narration, proposed by Demazière; Dubar. Results The results found point to positive and negative representations in relation to the interviewees' point of view on the influence of social media on the sexuality of these adolescents. The positive representations found revolve around the ease of access to information and the privacy of being able to search and answer your questions through the internet and other means of communication. The aforementioned negative representations point to the little media approach on the subject, in addition, they indicate sporadic approaches centered on festive periods and dates such as carnival, a unique focus on AIDS and aimed specifically at adult audiences. Conclusions It is necessary to rethink how adolescents and young people today experience their sexuality and how to reach them comprehensively, understanding the need to guarantee appropriate and quality information to adolescents. Key messages The present work leads to reflections on the ways that adolescents experience sexuality today. Currently, teenagers are involved in digital media, including social media, where they can express issues related to sexuality and the way they experience it.

Online Romantic Relationships

2019 ◽  
pp. 194-215
Author(s):  
Joanne Lloyd ◽  
Alison Attrill-Smith ◽  
Chris Fullwood
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Online Dating ◽  
Online Relationships ◽  
Online Spaces ◽  
Available Information ◽  
The Way

This chapter provides an overview of the variety of ways in which online romantic relationships are conducted. It discusses how existing relationships are played out in online spaces, with particular attention to the increasingly popular activity of seeking new relationships through online dating. It covers the wide array of dating sites and apps available and summarizes the available information about who uses them, how and when they use them, and why. Positive aspects of online relationships, such as convenience as well as control over the way individuals are able to present themselves, are discussed, along with more negative aspects, including the potential for “catfishing” and harmful online behaviors after a relationship breakup.

From likes to love: trust catalysing the digital romantic journey

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Burna Nayar ◽  
Surabhi Koul
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Online Dating ◽  
Self Disclosure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Online Social Media ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Social Intimacy

Purpose The behavioural changes embraced by the current generation has prompted researchers to revisit the paradigm of human relationships, especially romantic liaisons. The present study revisits the construct of romantic relationships steered by social media platforms, through the dimensions of self-disclosure, social intimacy and trust. The role of trust as a mediator to determine the success of online dating is also explored in this study. Design/methodology/approach The study uses the data collected from 225 respondents (86 females and 139 males) in the age group of 18 to 30 years. The respondents were asked to fill a questionnaire (provided they fulfilled the necessary conditions and expressed their consent to be a participant in this study). Findings The study validates that the extent of self-disclosure propels the degree of social intimacy. The results also confirm a significant partial mediation effect of trust on the relationship between social intimacy and the success of online dating. Thus, practitioners need to keep in mind that the probability of online dating success is higher when individuals disclose more and engage in an intimate relationship driven by trust. Research limitations/implications The study sample is restricted to young adults ranging from 18 to 30 years, based on the author’s convenience. The study was restricted to three most popular social media platforms in India where disclosure is limited to private timelines or messages. Another limitation of this study is that a multi-variate model of analysis could not be used due to the lack of parallel variables. Further studies can also compare online versus offline dating behaviour and determinants that influence the romantic relationship between two partners. Practical implications The new perspective could be to ascertain specific built-in mechanisms providers should develop to ensure that the new generation benefits from new technology rather than falling victim to its toxins. Social implications The study re-establishes the importance of the role of trust in any romantic relationship – may it be online or the more traditional, offline or face-to-face mode. Originality/value The study delves into the domain of existing romantic relationships established through the modernistic viewpoint of online social media platforms. The findings bring a fresh perspective on the dynamics of online romantic relationships through the mélange of self-disclosure, social intimacy and trust. Previous literature suggests that trust is dependent on self-disclosure, which is in contrast with the results of the current study. The present study corroborates that trust leads to the success of online dating.

scholarly journals How does social media negatively affects the beginning of relationships?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Aronowicz
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Online Dating ◽  
The United States ◽  
Self Presentation ◽  
People Search ◽  
The Way

“Between 2005 and 2012 more than one third of couples who got married in the United States met through an online dating site. Online dating was the single biggest way people met their spouses. Bigger than work, friends, and school combined.” Aziz Ansari, (2015).Romantic relationships have drastically changed in today’s world, affected by the role of social media and deeply changing the way we interact with each other. The way we approach one another might seems standard today, but importantly differs from what people did even just decades ago. The percentage of people meeting online keeps rising while traditional ways of finding your partner are constantly decreasing.Online dating transformed our romantic lives; single people today have more romantic options than ever. The new trend of online romantic relationships leads to various questionings. Why do people decide to use social media to interact with each other rather than approaching someone in the street and invite him/her for diner? The issue of online self-presentation, the necessity of body language, and how does this change affect us in finding our life partner? It is this change we want to focus on, to try and find out how the rise of online dating drastically affected the art of finding a companion. The aim is to intent to understand the different intentions behind social media when concerning romantic relationships. We can ask ourselves for instance, do people search today for long term connection when chatting on the net or maybe more alternative motives.Of course, the rise of social media implies some new challenges and risks that are necessary to mention, we will mainly focus on how social media negatively affects the beginning of romantic relationships.Throughout the paper we will first focus on 5 focus points based on related work to the topic, in order to organize the information. The aim is to understand the connection between romantic relationships and social media, how do we present ourselves online, media richness, the Initiation of social ties on social media and finally analyzes the initiation of romantic ties on social media. We will discuss prior research and go further into our research questioning focusing on the negative impact of this new kind of romantic relationship by conducting a survey and analyze how people perceive the role of social media in their own romantic life. People have become so used to using social media that a more traditional way of dating is less and less considerable nowadays. Using social media to approach someone has become the new norm, and maybe the reason why we should be more alert and consider the negatives impacts it has on the initiation of romantic relationships.

scholarly journals Technisch generalisierte Kommunikationsmedien. Kommunikation im Medium der Adresslisten

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörg Räwel
Keyword(s):  
System Theory ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Online Dating ◽  
Business Community ◽  
Soziale Netzwerke ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Soziale Medien

Aus systemtheoretischer Perspektive wird die Form adresslistenbasierter Kommunikation, wie sie das Internet ermöglicht – oft unter «soziale Medien» bzw. «soziale Netzwerke» kategorisiert –, untersucht. Kommunikation also etwa in Singlebörsen, sozialen Medien wie Facebook, Netzwerken beruflicher Ausrichtung, Reisekontaktbörsen, usw. Es wird gezeigt, wie Adresslisten als Medien eine technisch unterstützte Möglichkeit darstellen, das Problem doppelter Kontingenz, im Sinne von Initiative und Stabilisierung von Interaktionssystemen, zu bewältigen. Am Fallbeispiel der Anbahnung von (romantischer) Liebe, also in Bezug auf Singlebörsen, werden die Vorteile (Hoffnungen), wie auch die Nachteile (Enttäuschungen) von Adresslistenkommunikation erörtert. So wird nachgewiesen, dass hier zwar einerseits das Problem der Initiative bewältigt werden kann, aber Adresslistenkommunikation anderseits Probleme für die Kontinuität bzw. Stabilität von Interaktionssystemen innerhalb des symbolisch generalisierten Kommunikationsmediums Liebe induziert. Nicht zuletzt wird gezeigt, dass durch Adresslisten reputationsorientierte Kommunikation an Bedeutung gewinnt.From a system-theory perspective, the form of address list based communication, as made possible by the Internet – often categorized under “social media” or “social networks” – is analyzed. Examples of address-list based communication are online dating services, online social networking sites such as Facebook, networking sites for the business community, travel networking sites, etc. The paper theorizes how address-lists as media represent a technologically supported possibility to cope with the problem of double contingency in terms of initiative and stabilization of interaction systems. The paper addresses, as a case example, the advantages (hopefulness) and the disadvantages (disappointments) of address-list based communication in the initiation of love or romantic relationships. Thus, it shows that the problem of initiative can be overcome, but address list communication creates problems for the continuity or stability of interaction systems within love as a symbolically generalized medium of communication. Last, but not least, it shows that address lists increase the importance of reputation-oriented communication.

scholarly journals Observing Participants: Digital Ethnography in Online Dating Environments and the Cultivation of Online Research Identities

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-151
Author(s):  
Antonio Silva Esquinas ◽  
Rebeca Cordero Verdugo ◽  
Jorge Ramiro Pérez Suárez ◽  
Daniel Briggs
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Potential Risk ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Online Dating ◽  
Ethnographic Research ◽  
Online Research ◽  
Digital Ethnography ◽  
Dating Apps ◽  
Sexual Exploration ◽  
Methodological Reflection

This article offers a critical methodological reflection on how we undertook covert digital ethnographic research on Spanish young people and their use of online dating apps with a focus on the potential risk attached to using them. We were interested in showing how we approached the fieldwork, how we developed different research identities and how those identities were able to draw out raw data which reflected the risk attached to the online dating apps. While the project as a whole used a mixed-methods framework which also encompassed open-ended interviews and surveys, we provide a series of critical reflections attuned to digital ethnography. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to show how the methodological techniques cultivated ‘identities’ for our ethnographer that became effective in teasing out attitudes to risk and sexual exploration. We also hope that the paper can facilitate similar studies in the future, thus paving the way for other researchers. For this reason, we highlight the problems we encountered during the fieldwork and discuss the ethical issues related to this specific field.

Online construction of romantic relationships on social media

2022 ◽  
pp. 026540752110678
Author(s):  
Sharon Goldberg ◽  
Daphna Yeshua-Kats ◽  
Avi Marciano
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Relationship Development ◽  
Development Model ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Relationship Dynamics ◽  
Online Spaces ◽  
Relational Partners ◽  
Relationship Construction

This study draws on Knapp’s offline relationship development model to examine how people construct romantic relationships on social media, with particular attention to the role of affordances in this process. Based on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 30 relational partners, we show that Knapp’s five traditional stages of relationship construction merge online into three because of social media affordances, including searchability, visibility, anonymity, persistence, storage, and editability. These affordances allow users to search and obtain information about potential partners quickly, conveniently, and anonymously before, during, and after the first interaction. They also enable users to initiate or avoid romantic interactions relatively easily, present shared memories, build a sense of togetherness, and edit or erase online content about previous partners. The findings suggest that most participants perceived Facebook, more than Instagram, as a platform of choice for relationship construction. Addressing the interplay between social media affordances, online relational practices, and offline relationship dynamics, the study shows that offline and online spaces are highly interrelated in terms of interinfluence. Therefore, we argue that the merger of stages is not merely a technical rearrangement but an indication of the fundamental role that online practices play in people’s offline realities, including romantic relationships.

scholarly journals Sexuality Education in the Digital Age: Modelling the Predictors of Acceptance and Behavioural Intention to Access and Interact with Sexuality Information on Social Media

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Olamijuwon ◽  
Clifford Odimegwu
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Young People ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Structural Equation Model ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Sexuality Education ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Intention To Use

Abstract Introduction Diverse literature on sexual health promotion using social media suggests that increasing information reach and interaction are crucial. This study integrated the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) to model the predictors of young adults’ behavioural intention to use and interact with sexuality education on social media. Methods A total of 936 young adults in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa who had access to the internet and Facebook were recruited via Facebook’s advertising platform from 22 May 2020 to 8 June 2020. A structural equation model was fitted on the sample to identify the individual attributes associated with the intention to use and interact with sexuality information on social media. Results About 84% of the young adults in the sample consider social media an appropriate medium for sexual health communication, with Facebook being the most preferred (40%) digital platform for sexual health promotion. Results from the structural equation model showed that performance expectancy (β = 0.18, P < 0.001), social influence (β = 0.09, P = 0.047), effort expectancy (β = 0.25, P < 0.001), facilitating condition (β = 0.33, P < 0.001), and attitude (β = 0.10, P = 0.039) were significantly associated with the intention to access sexuality education on social media. These factors (except attitude) were also significantly associated with the intention to interact with sexual health information on social media. Conclusions Young people with internet access are amenable to receiving and interacting with sexuality information on social media. The use of social media for sexuality education is associated with whether such use is free of effort, endorsed by society, align with their engagements with other messages, and helps them achieve improvement in their sexual and reproductive health. Policy Implications Strategies to increase access and interaction with sexuality information on social media help young people make an informed decision about their sexuality. Such use should also be free of effort, align with the way they interact with other information on social media, and supported by the society.

scholarly journals Locked down apps versus the social media ecology: Why do young people and educators disagree on the best delivery platform for digital sexual health entertainment education?

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 4571-4589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan McKee ◽  
Kath Albury ◽  
Jean Burgess ◽  
Ben Light ◽  
Kim Osman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Young People ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Entertainment Education ◽  
Sexual Health Information ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Delivery Platform ◽  
The Difference

This article reports on focus groups exploring the best way to reach young men with vulgar comedy videos that provide sexual health information. Young people reported that they found the means by which the material was presented – as a locked down app – to be problematic, and that it would better be delivered through social media platforms such as YouTube. This would make it more ‘spreadable’. By contrast, adult sex education stakeholders thought the material should be contained within a locked down, stand-alone app – otherwise it might be seen by children who are too young, and/or young people might misunderstand the messages. We argue that the difference in approach represented by these two sets of opinions represents a fundamental stumbling block for attempts to reach young people with digital sexual health materials, which can be understood through the prism of different cultural forms – education versus entertainment.

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