“IRL” stands for “In Real Life” and for most Danish children and young people online social networking is all about real life. Social networking sites primarily function as places where they maintain their existing (offline) friendships.

A new study carried out by PhD Student Malene Charlotte Larsen in cooperation with The Danish Media Council for Children and Young People backs up that statement. It comprises two surveys among respectively young people between 12-18 years and parents. In the survey among the young people, the majority of the respondents state that they use social networking sites in order to communicate or keep in contact with existing “IRL friends”.

The survey consisted of online questionnaires with both factual questions about media habits and use as well as questions to which respondents could answer qualitatively. 2000 youngsters between the age of 12 and 18 years old answered the online questionnaire with personal views on as well as examples from their online life.

Generally, their answers show that the digital space should not be seen as a replacement, but rather a continuation of the physical space – as their communication online often has to do with their offline experiences.

The study also shows that the young respondents generally spend a lot of time on social networking sites. In the study 30.9% stated that they spend more than two hours a day on social networking sites and 29.5% stated that they spend between one and two hours a day on the popular social networking sites in Denmark like Arto, NationX and Habbo.

Online communication is here often used among the young users to sustain the social network. It is the glue that binds the relations together. The most frequent message figuring in the guest books of the young people is “Hi, what are you doing?” - a message with a phatic function –  a way to maintain contact: “Hi, I am still your friend and I care about you”.

“I love you” the best message

A discourse of love and affection is characteristic of the online communication between the young users of social networking sites. The majority of the respondents in the survey say that a guest book message with the words “I love you” is the best message they have ever received. Such a message most often comes from close “real life” friends or boy- or girlfriends.

On the other hand, when the young people receive guest book messages they do not like, it is most likely that it comes from someone they do not know.  

Facts:
The study comprises two surveys among respectively young people between 12-18 years and parents. The focus of the surveys is youth and online communication.  

Preliminary results from the study will be published early 2008.

Author:

Malene Charlotte Larsen, PhD Candidate, Aalborg University, Denmark
http://malenel.wordpress.com