Cited by 64Impact of Technology on AdolescentsBullying, Victimization, and AggressionPrivacy, Security, and Data Protection

Self-exploration, anonymity and risks in the online setting: analysis of narratives by 14–18-year olds

Open access
Keipi, Teo, Oksanen, Atte·2014·Journal of Youth Studies

Abstract

This article explores youth narratives of Internet risks and opportunities brought about by user anonymity. Using an essay-based study of 258 youth (mean age 15.4 years, 56% female), we examined youth narratives concerning the effects of Internet anonymity on youth behavior online. Narratives were written anonymously to maximize disclosure. The needs categories of self-determination theory (SDT) for autonomy, relatedness, and competence were used to identify risks and opportunities in youth narratives. The analysis of the data was thematic, using both quantitative and qualitative methods with SDT providing an effective descriptive framework. Quantitative thematic analysis showed that 17% of the narratives included a notion of competence, 32% autonomy and 30% relatedness. Risks were also prevalent in the narratives, with primary themes of 74% cyberbullying and insults, 27% identity theft and risky false identity, and 18% sexual harassment or exploitation. The qualitative analysis underlines the interaction of both risks and opportunities in the use of social media online by youth. These findings illuminate both the importance of Internet opportunities as a social tool for youth need fulfillment toward self-determination and the social risks that youth Internet use involves.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1080/13676261.2014.881988

Cites

65 of 65 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

We couldn’t retrieve this paper’s full text, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

2 of the 67 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Keipi, T., & Oksanen, A.
Affiliations
University of Turku (FI)
Corresponding author
Keipi, Teo
Venue
Journal of Youth Studies
Published
2014-02-05
Volume
17
Issue
8
Pages
1097-1113
ISSN
  • 1367-6261 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-9680
OpenAlex
W2083695308
Cited by
64
References
67
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 5
FWCI
27.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Youth Studies (publishedVersion)
  • UTUPub (University of Turku) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Privacy, Security, and Data Protection
Keywords
online anonymity, adolescent internet use, self-determination theory, cyberbullying, identity theft, sexual harassment, online risks, online opportunities, social media, adolescents, self-exploration, risky online behavior

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review