Social Network's Effects on Italian Teenager's Life

Social networks, born and developed to improve each other communication and socialization, on one hand allows linking people across the world building new relationships but, on the other hand it could also damage social relationships. The potential risk is that face-to-face relationships could be reduced instead of strengthened if the use of social networks like Facebook produces stress and loss of interest on the other everyday life activities and social relationships. The study that we have carried out and presented in this paper analyses the use of social networks by teenagers discussing advantages and problems that their use produces for off line social relationships. In particular, the study has involved students of secondary schools in Rome and it has analysed: i) the use of social networks by students, ii) the strengthening or reduction of face-to-face relationships via social networks, iii) social networks addiction disorder in young people and related rebound on daily life. A survey-based method was used to gather data collected using an online questionnaire filled in by 414 teenagers. The statistical analysis performed indicates that the use of social networks seems to have a positive impact on sociality of the teenagers involved in the survey. In fact, according to information provided by them, the use of social networks mainly aims to improve face-to-face relationships. However some of them use it as a showcase creating idealized profiles to be accepted from group, increasing in some cases online friendships and reducing that face-to-face.