Regan and Seeves (2010) analyzed research and discussed the way online social
networking could empower young people. The authors explained that adolescents have
been the first to use social networking sites because their age group is predisposed to focus
on peer interactions and social relations. They also discussed the social capital model and
describe the way in which social networking websites allow young people to maintain
existing friendships, make new friends, and find past friends in order to renew old
relationships. Thus online social networks are able to both bridge and bond social capital by connecting large groups of people in loose networks and allowing for communication that
fosters relationship closeness. In their final comments on relationships the authors suggest
that self‐esteem may be boosted by the relationships and feelings of connection and
integration these social networks provide. These relationships in networks might even help socially isolated youths feel more included.