Teens, Technology, and Romantic Relationships (Pew Internet Reading)

Lenhart, A., Anderson, M., & Smith, A. (October 1, 2015). Teens, technology, and romantic relationships. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/10/01/teens-technology-and-romantic-relationships/

“Have you ever dated, hooked up with or otherwise had a romantic relationship with another person?”   Pew Research Center’s Teen Relationship Study asked teens ages 13-17 and their parents this question as well as others to determine how teens are using technology to develop romantic relationships.  

A few of the facts:

1. 64% of teens have never been in a romantic relationship.  Of the 35% that have been in a relationship, only 8% have met their partner online with the majority meeting them on Facebook.
2. Social Media is widely used for flirting or "friending" crushes even among teens that did not meet their partner online.
3. 25% of teens have unfriended someone that made them feel uncomfortable with their flirting.  Girls are more likely to be the recipients of the uncomfortable flirting.
4. Social Media can help teens stay connected, but also fuels jealousy and instability in relationships.
5. Teen daters like to be able to publicly show their affection for their partner but dislike that too  many people can comment on their relationship.
6. 85% of dating teens expect to hear from their partner daily.
7. Most teens prefer in-person visiting, calling, and texting with their partner versus using social media.
8. Teens prefer to break-up in person versus via text message.
9. Very few teenagers are controlling or digitally stalk their partners or ex-partners.
10. 54% of teens prefer to ask a person out in person.  Only 24% would ask them out via text.
11. Girls are more likely to block or unfriend ex-partners in Social Media platforms.

After reading this report, I have to admit that I'm a little surprised that more teens are not meeting their partners online.  In the world of ever changing technology where teenagers sit in the same room to text each other (read as pet peeve! LOL!), it is nice to see that teenagers still appreciate the personal face-to-face contact and interactions that we enjoyed when we were their age. (77 pages)

-Lisa