Social Media Use Among Adolescents: The Relationship with Peer Attachment and Moderation of Gender

Abstract

Building and redefining peer relationships during adolescence is vitally important, particularly because peer relations can serve as attachment bonds. With social media use increasing among adolescents, questions arise as to its effect on the development of peer attachment. Therefore, the present study explores the relationship between social media use and peer attachment among adolescents. A questionnaire measuring serval construct (e.g., peer attachment, social media use) was administered among 438 Dutch adolescents (M= 14.4 years, SD = 1.56) from seven high schools across the Netherlands. Three types of social media use were found: active private use (e.g., texting), active public use (e.g., status updating), and passive use (e.g., scrolling through timeline). Regression and moderation analyses were conducted to test whether these types of social media use were related to peer attachment and whether this relationship differed for male and female adolescents. The results showed that active social media use positively relates to peer attachment. Girls who use social media more in an active private way report more peer attachment compared with boys, while boys who report more active public use feel more attached to their peers compared with girls. These findings extend our knowledge about social media use among adolescents and show that social media use may provide opportunities for adolescents to grow closer to their friends. Future research should focus on replicating the present study's findings using longitudinal research to provide further insight into the direction of these relationships.