Social Networking and Interpersonal Communication and Conflict Resolution Skills among College Freshmen

Social networking is a current phenomenon that consists of both web-based communication with Internet users through websites and interaction with others via cellular phones. A survey conducted on 2,277 American adults found that 18-24 year olds sent or received an average of 109.5 text messages per day, which works out to be more than 3,200 text messages per month. Further, it was estimated that 713 million people ages 15 or older, which was 14% of the global population, used the Internet in June 2006, with 153 million being in the United States. The purpose of this study at social networking, specifically the activities of texting and use of the social network site (SNS) Facebook, and its impact on communication and conflict resolution skills. Twenty two college freshmen responded to an anonymous survey addressing their daily activities in social networking as well as general attitudes regarding communication and conflict resolution. The findings of this research suggest that individuals consider face-to-face interaction the most effective and preferred means to communicate and resolve conflict with others. However, the results also indicate that individuals participate in daily social networking activities at a higher rate than what has been found in previous studies. Further, participants reported using texting and Facebook to communicate and resolve conflicts in their in everyday life. Future research is necessary and encouraged to examine how social networking relates to the skills of communication and conflict resolution and its impact on interpersonal functioning