An investigation into the experiences of adolescents using social media technology

Social media technology (SMT) has become central to adolescent life with 96% of teenagers having a SMT profile (Coughlan, 2016). Previous literature has either investigated the discretely positive or negative implications for adolescent development or adopted a broad, quantitative approach lacking depth and validity. This qualitative study examined the experiences of adolescents who use SMT in a balanced, yet rich and detailed way. A constructivist-interpretive approach was adopted and 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted using a sample of 14-18 year olds and analysed through the 6-stage process of thematic analysis outlined by Braun and Clarke (2006). The findings present a balanced, yet complex interaction between positive (e.g. feeling connected to friends and able to express true/ideal self) and negative (e.g. destruction of self-esteem/self-image and long-lasting feelings of distress) implications for adolescent wellbeing and development and offer a nuanced perspective on the use of SMT within this demographic, with suggestions for holistic support and intervention