Friends, lovers, risk and intimacy Risk taking as a socially meaningful practice

Abstract

Th e aim of this study is to understand the notion of risk in photo-sharing practices and the purpose of risk in the development of intimate relationships. We argue that risk in the form of self-disclosure is a key aspect of intimate photo sharing rather than an undesirable side eff ect, and that a broader analytical perspective on the role of risk in the development of intimate relationships allows us to understand risky photo sharing as a socially meaningful practice. We unfold and elaborate the link between risk and intimacy on the basis of fi ve focus group interviews with 21 German high school students aged 14 to 17. Th e interviews focus on the participants' sharing practices and the associated role played by risk. Th e data indicate that risk does serve a social purpose as a way of 'proving friendship'. However, the data also suggest that the young people in the study are more willing to accept risk related to 'friendly intimacy' as compared to 'romantic intimacy'. We discuss the potential reasons for this diff erence as well as its wider methodological and theoretical implications.