A Mixed Methods Examination of Adolescents’ Reasons For Pretending to Text

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine reasons adolescents give for pretending to text in various social situations. Pretending to text was conceptualized as when a person uses a cellphone to make it look like they are texting, but they are not actually sending messages. Little research is available from the adolescent perspective regarding self-presentation and avoidance when using digital devices in social contexts. Methods: A convergent mixed methods approach was used to understand the experience of highschool sophomores, juniors, and seniors (n=216) in the United States. Chi-square analyses and t-tests were used to examine differences between those who pretended to text and those who did not. Qualitative data were analyzed using van Manen\u27s line-by-line approach. Results & conclusions: Participants indicated they pretended to text for reasons of avoidance, to maintain a positive appearance, and sometimes to provide a sense of security if they felt unsafe in a situation. This study uses self-presentation to further understand adolescent perceptions of pretending to text