Online Social Networking Patterns

Abstract

Objective: The use of online social networks like Facebook continues to increase rapidly among all age groups and seg- ments of our society, presenting new opportunities for the ex - change of sexual information as well as for potentially unsafe encounters between predators and the vulnerable or young. This study surveyed middle school, high school, and college- age students, as well as sexual offenders, regarding their use of social networking sites in order to provide information to better focus education and prevention efforts from nurses and other health care providers. Methods: Written questionnaires asking about various characteristics of participants use of social networking sites were distributed to each group and filled out by 404 middle school students, 2,077 high school students, 1,284 students drawn from five traditional four-year colleges, and 466 adults who had committed either an Internet sexual offense or a hands-on sexual offense (in some cases both). Results: Notable findings emerging from our analysis of the questionnaire responses included the following: offenders and students both frequent social networking sites, although at the time of the study offenders reported that they preferred Myspace and students that they preferred Facebook; nearly two-thirds of the Internet offenders said theyd initiated the to ask questions about the Internet patterns and be- haviors in normal populations as well as among In- ternet offenders who had been convicted of crimes related to their online behaviors. We introduced a de- velopmental theme by asking a large number of middle school students, high school students, college students, and adult Internet and non-Internet sexual offenders to complete a questionnaire that contained questions about daily Internet use and risk-taking behaviors. We sought to gather information on students and offend- ers levels of engagement with social networking sites on the Internet as well as the roles played by Internet use in any would-be or actual in-person victimization. Our goal was to report basic social networking patterns among students and adult offenders as background in formation for health care professionals, especially school nurses, pediatric nurses, psychiatric nurses, fo- rensic nurses, and many others who come in contact with young people. METHODS Data were collected from 2008 through 2009. The self- report questionnaires were designed to capture re- sponses to as many identical or similar questions about social networking and Internet use from the students and adult Internet offenders. All questionnaires were ajnwolterskluwer.com topic of sex in their first chat session; more than half of the Internet offenders disguised their identity when online; most Internet offenders we surveyed said they preferred commu- nicating with teenage girls rather than teenage boys; high school students experience with sexting (sharing nude photos of themselves or others on cell phones or online) differed significantly according to their sex; a small number of students are being threatened and assaulted by people they meet online; avatar sites such as Second Life were used both by students and offenders, with both child molesters and Internet offenders expressing interest in Second Life. Conclusions: The use of the Internet presents relatively new and complex issues related to the safety and privacy of adolescents and young adults, and its crucial that our under- standing keep pace with these changes. Possible nurse-initiated policy recommendations include designing technologies and educational programs to help in the identification of suspicious online behaviors; strengthening Internet filters and privacy op - tions for protecting students online; and school outreach for students who are harassed, threatened, or assaulted as a con - sequence of meeting someone online. Keywords: assault, avatars, communication, Internet risk behaviors, sexting, sexuality, sexual offenders, social media, social networking sites, youth