Introduction
Media use provides an important backdrop for the social, emotional, and cognitive development of youth, accounting
for a large portion of their time (Roberts, Foehr, & Rideout, 2005). One type of online application that has grown rapidly in
prevalence and popularity in recent years is social networking on the Internet. Social networking websites, such as
Facebook, MySpace, Friendster, LiveJournal, and Bebo, are member-based Internet communities that allow users to post
profile information, such as a username and photograph, and to communicate with others in innovative ways such as
sending public or private online messages or sharing photos online. In the spring of 2006, Nielsen//NetRatings (2006)
reported that the top 10 social networking sites in the U.S. grew in number of users from 46.8 million to 68.8 million
during the previous year. These sites reveal important information about how adolescents and young adults are interacting
with one another in the information age.
The purpose of this study was to provide descriptive information about the use of social networking sites by college students.
Crucial questions for understanding the use of such applications address time commitment, why college students use these sites,
how they interact on these sites, and the nature of their influence on the development of identity and friendship in emerging
adulthood. Here we consider these questions with respect to Facebook, a popular social networking site.
1.1. Prevalence and time spent on social networking sites
Media are a ubiquitous influence in youth development, with 8–18 year old U.S. youth investing approximately 6.5 h per day with
media (Roberts et al., 2005). Social networking sites have captured the interest ofmany adolescents and young adults. Recent reports
on the prevalence of online activities indicate that the majority of U.S. adolescents and young adults utilize social networking sites and
that the number ofmemberships increaseswith age. For instance, a nationally representative survey of U.S. youth by the PewInternet
and American Life Project found that 41% of 12–13 year olds and 61% of 14–17 year olds use social networking sites (Lenhart &Madden,
2007). Among those surveyed in college, the use of such sites is nearly universal. For example, a large survey of college students from
several universities in the Midwest U.S. found that 91% of respondents use the site Facebook.com (Wiley & Sisson, 2006).
Spending time on social networking sites appears to be part of most U.S. young adults' daily activities. In one study, U.S. college
students reported using Facebook an average of 10 to 30 min daily (Ellison, Steinfield, & Lampe, 2007). Another study found that
about half of 12–17 year olds with social networking site memberships log on daily: 22% logged on to social networking sites
several times per day, 26% once a day,17% three to five days perweek,15% one or two days perweek, and only 20% every fewweeks
or less (Lenhart & Madden, 2007). In these studies, survey methods were used to assess how much time adolescents and young
adults spend on social networking sites. The current study adds to this literature by asking why college- aged students invest their
time and how they interact with each other at these sites.
1.2. Developmental considerations and Internet use
Although some of theways that youth spend their time have changed in the information age, the central developmental tasks of
adolescence and early adulthood have remained constant. Key characteristics of adolescent development include the formation of
identity, the development of intimate relationships, and the power of the peer group. In Erikson's (1963) theory, identity
development occurs through a series of conflicts that must be resolved at different stages throughout life. Early adolescence is
marked by the conflict between identity and role confusion, in which the individual must work towards an integrated sense of self
that considers the many facets of his or her life, particularly a sexual identity and a moral ideology. Late adolescence is
characterized by the struggle between intimacy and isolation, in which the individual, who now presumably possesses a wellformulated
sense of self, is able to “fuse” his or her identity with another person in the form of a mature relationship.
Arnett (2000) presents a new perspective on the period previously described as late adolescence or early adulthood in his
conceptualization of “emerging adulthood”. Unlike adolescence, emerging adulthood offers more freedom and independence;
unlike adulthood, it offers a period of less responsibility.Whereas this time in development has traditionally been associated with
settling into adult roles, Arnett argues that this is a period of change and exploration in which young adults are able to delve more
deeply into issues that emerged during adolescence, including love, work, and generalworld views. Thus, in the period of emerging
adulthood, young adults continue to progress through the identity exploration of adolescence but at a deeper and more meaningful
level (Arnett, 2000).
One means by which the identity challenges of emerging adulthood may be addressed is through self-disclosure, particularly
with peers. Buhrmester and Prager's (1995) model of self-disclosure suggests that adolescents can resolve issues through social
input from others. Self-disclosure can serve the dual purpose of: 1) identity development, where external feedback from peers may
help the individual to clarify his or her sense of self, and 2) intimacy development, where the relationship with the disclosure
partner is strengthened. This theory is relevant to young adults as well because the issues of adolescence continue into emerging
adulthood.
Because Internet use is a pervasive presence in the lives of U.S. adolescents and young adults (e.g., Lenhart & Madden, 2007;
Wiley & Sisson, 2006), online interactions may influence developmental outcomes through peer feedback. For example, in a
content analysis of adolescents' personal webpages, youth were often found to express themselves by posting information about
their interests and their identity (Stern, 2004). Stern argues that the inclusion of various channels for reader feedback (e.g., online
guest books) suggests that youth desire responses to the content posted, perhaps for self-validation or the formation of
relationships. Another study found that 50% of Dutch adolescents who experimented with identity through instant messaging had
three primary reasons for doing so: to explore themselves through feedback from others, to compensate for social limitations of
shyness, and to facilitate social relationships (Valkenburg, Schouten, & Peter, 2005).
Like personalwebsites and instant messaging, social networking sites provide an easy, accessibleway to interact with peers and
gather feedback. These opportunities may be particularly significant since peers are readily available online at almost any time, and
the tools provided make communication easy to accomplish. Such contacts may foster the development of identity and intimate
relationships, including friendships as well as romantic relationships.
1.3. Why youth use social networking sites
Social networking sites are designed to foster social interaction in a virtual environment. In general, communication is
facilitated through information posted in the profile (i.e., the user's personal page), which often includes a photograph of the
member and personal information describing his or her interests, both of which provide information about one's identity.
Members can view one another's profiles and can communicate through various applications similar to email or online message
boards. Such interactions can potentially address many concerns of adolescence and emerging adulthood, such as the need for
friendship and peer feedback.