Socially (dis)connected in a connected world

The role of young people's digital maturity

Dados Bibliográficos

ID21561981
AutoresTeresa Koch (0000-0002-5301-3257, University of Vienna, autor correspondente), Franziska Laaber (0000-0003-3040-5933, University of Vienna), Álvaro Arenas (0000-0003-1183-1283, IE University), Arnd Florack (0000-0001-9906-0043, University of Vienna)
Ano2025
Volume163
Páginas108473
Data de publicação2025-02-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoComputers in Human Behavior (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0747-5632 • E-ISSN: 1873-7692
EditoraElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.chb.2024.108473
OpenAlexW4403541209
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas2
Referências citadas65

Social media offer constant social interactions, but young people do not necessarily benefit from these regarding social connectedness. We investigated whether adolescents with higher digital maturity (Laaber et al., 2023) are better able to use social media to enhance social connectedness, and tested three mechanisms of how, who and why individuals engage with others online. The results of a longitudinal and cross-sectional study with adolescent-parent dyads from three European countries ( N total = 573) showed that with higher digital maturity, adolescents report higher social connectedness. The relation was not explained by higher active use, but engaging with real-life rather than virtual friends online and holding compassionate goals for others mediated the positive relationship between digital maturity and social connectedness. The findings support digital maturity as an important ability when using digital technologies, as it relates to beneficial social interactions, and suggest potential mechanisms to be strengthened to help adolescents experience positive interactions online. • Digital maturity relates to adolescents' social connectedness cross-sectionally and longitudinally one year later. • This relationship was mediated by engaging with more real-life friends online and holding compassionate goals for others. • The relationship was not mediated by more active use behavior. • Digital maturity captures the use of digital technology for social integration and personal development

Developmental psychology · Sociology · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Psychology · Social Psychology · Technology Use by Older Adults · Youth Education and Societal Dynamics