Cited by 111Impact of Technology on AdolescentsChild Development and Digital TechnologyMedia and Digital Communication

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 29 of the 30 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 32 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Social media use and social connectedness among adolescents in the United Kingdom: a qualitative exploration of displacement and stimulation

Open access

Abstract

Background: Connectedness to family and peers is a key determinant of adolescent mental health. Existing research examining associations between social media use and social connectedness has been largely quantitative and has focused primarily on loneliness, or on specific aspects of peer relationships. In this qualitative study we use the displacement hypothesis and the stimulation hypothesis as competing theoretical lenses through which we examine the complex relationship between social media use and feelings of connectedness to family and peers. Methods: In-depth paired and individual interviews were conducted with twenty-four 13–14-year-olds in two inner-city English secondary schools. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded and thematically analysed. Results: Analysis identified four themes: (i) ‘Displacement of face-to-face socialising’ (ii) ‘Social obligations’ (iii) ‘(Mis)Trust’ and (iv) ‘Personal and group identity’. Results indicated stronger support for the stimulation hypothesis than the displacement hypothesis. We found evidence of a complex set of reciprocal and circular relationships between social media use and connectedness consistent with a ‘rich-get-richer’ and a ‘poor-get-poorer’ effect for family and peer connectedness – and a ‘poor-get-richer’ effect in peer connectedness for those who find face-to-face interactions difficult. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that parents should take a measured approach to social media use, providing clear guidance, promoting trust and responsible time management, and acknowledging the role of social media in making connections. Understanding and sharing in online experiences is likely to promote social connectedness. Supporting young people to negotiate breathing space in online interactions and prioritising trust over availability in peer relationships may optimise the role of social media in promoting peer connectedness.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This qualitative study used displacement and stimulation hypotheses to explore how social media use relates to family and peer connectedness among 13–14-year-olds in England. It found stronger support for stimulation than displacement, alongside complex reciprocal effects including rich-get-richer, poor-get-poorer, and poor-get-richer patterns.

Key findings

  • Four themes were identified: “Displacement of face-to-face socialising,” “Social obligations,” “(Mis)Trust,” and “Personal and group identity.”
  • Results indicated stronger support for the stimulation hypothesis than the displacement hypothesis, with social media often used to maintain or expand connections when face-to-face socialising was not possible.
  • The authors describe a complex set of reciprocal and circular relationships, including a “rich-get-richer” and “poor-get-poorer” effect for family and peer connectedness, and a “poor-get-richer” effect in peer connectedness for those who find face-to-face interactions difficult.
  • Participants also described “over-stimulation” through obligations to be available and provide positive feedback, and fear of screenshotting undermined trust and peer connectedness.

Methods

  • In-depth paired and individual interviews were conducted with 24 Year 9 students aged 13–14 years (19 girls and five boys) in February–March 2020.
  • Interviews took place at two inner-city English secondary schools; 13 interviews were conducted, lasting between 45 min and an hour, using a topic guide developed with a young people’s advisory board.
  • Interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded in NVivo 12, and thematically analysed using an inductive, reflexive approach from a critical realist perspective.

Limitations

  • The paper states the sample size was somewhat smaller than planned due to COVID-19, with boys in particular under-represented.
  • The paper states participants were not selected based on how much or why they used social media, so additional patterns of social media use may exist in this age group that were not captured.
  • The paper states all participants were aged 13–14 and attended inner-city secondary schools in one area of the country, so caution should be exercised in generalising findings to other populations; the text also makes evident that findings rely on self-report and that participants were not asked to provide feedback on the findings.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1186/s12889-021-11802-9

Cites

29 of 29 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Figures

Fig. 1 Implications of social media screenshotting for trust and poor peer connectedness
Fig. 1 Implications of social media screenshotting for trust and poor peer connectednessCC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 2 Social enhancement (rich-get-richer) effect of social media in connectedness within close friendships
Fig. 2 Social enhancement (rich-get-richer) effect of social media in connectedness within close friendshipsCC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 3 Social enhancement (rich-get-richer) effect of social media in family connectedness
Fig. 3 Social enhancement (rich-get-richer) effect of social media in family connectednessCC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 4 Social deterioration (poor-get-poorer) effect of social media in family connectedness
Fig. 4 Social deterioration (poor-get-poorer) effect of social media in family connectednessCC BY · PubMed Central

Verification

Claims the paper makes

61 Own result · 43 Own interpretation · 24 Not checked yet · 7 Own method · 2 No basis given

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Show all 61 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 62
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 30
76 of 76
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The displacement and stimulation hypotheses, developed for internet use, are applicable to social media use.

    “The displacement hypothesis was formulated on the basis of internet use rather than social media specifically [11].”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The themes identified by the researchers reflect the participants’ experiences rather than solely the researchers’ interpretations.

    “We interpreted the data as adults who experienced adolescence in a time before social media existed and we reflected on this throughout the analytic process.”
2 of 2

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Citations

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Metadata

Authors
Winstone, L., Mars, B., Haworth, C. M. A., & Kidger, J.
Affiliations
  • University of Bristol (GB)
  • University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
Corresponding author
Winstone, Lizzy
Venue
BMC Public Health
Published
2021-09-24
Volume
21
Issue
1
Pages
1736-1736
ISSN
1471-2458 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3199521301
Cited by
111
References
30
Citations by year
2026: 26 · 2025: 31 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 1
FWCI
18.70
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • BMC Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Bristol Research (University of Bristol) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Explore Bristol Research (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • National Institute for Health and Care Research (PD‐SPH‐2015)
  • Leverhulme Trust
  • Department of Health and Social Care (PD-SPH-2015)
  • School for Public Health Research (Grant Reference Number PD-SPH2015, PD‐SPH‐2015)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Social Sciences › Education › Child Development and Digital Technology
  • Social Sciences › Communication › Media and Digital Communication
Keywords
social media use, social connectedness, adolescents, displacement theory, peer relationships, family connectedness, trust, identity, adolescent mental health, inner-city youth
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Humans, Loneliness, Mental Health, Peer Group, Social Environment, Social Media

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