Onlife identity: The question of gender and age in teenagers' online behaviour

 Sara Serrate-González, Universidad de Salamanca (Spain)

 Alberto Sánchez-Rojo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain)

 Luis-E. Andrade-Silva, Universidad de Salamanca (Spain)

 José-Manuel Muñoz-Rodríguez, Universidad de Salamanca (Spain)

https://doi.org/10.3916/C75-2023-01

Keywords

Digital identity, adolescence, social networks, digital behaviour, gender, stereotypes

Abstract

The presence of cyberspace in the lives of young people is such that we can no longer distinguish between online and offline spheres. They live a process of onlife development that is not always equitable in terms of gender. This paper aims to account for the online behaviour of Spanish adolescents according to gender and age, the decisions they make when constructing their virtual identity, and the effects that this has on them. A quantitative study has been carried out at a national level (N=2,076, 12-18 years old) following a non-experimental ex post facto design by means of a survey study. The results show that there are gender differences in the preference for one or other social network. A high percentage of girls make different choices when it comes to their online presence. Unlike boys, girls state that their virtual self and their behaviour significantly influence the opinion that they have of themselves and their need to feel integrated. In conclusion, the decisions that adolescents make when creating their virtual selves do not only have negative consequences derived from poor management, but are also plagued by mandates and stereotypes that determine how they should be and what they should do online; something that is especially pressing for girls.

References

Barnes, S.B. (2006). A privacy paradox: Social networking in the United States. First Monday, 11(9). https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v11i9.1394

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Besolí, G., Palomas, N., & Chamarro, A. (2018). Uso del móvil en padres, niños y adolescentes: Creencias acerca de sus riesgos y beneficio. Aloma, 36(1), 29-39. https://doi.org/10.51698/aloma.2018.36.1.29-39

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Cai, Z., Fan, X., & Du, J. (2017). Gender and attitudes toward technology use: A meta-analysis. Computers & Education, 105, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2016.11.003

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Dans, I. (2015). Identidad digital de los adolescentes. La narrativa del yo. Revista de Estudios e Investigación en Psicología y Educación, 13, 1-4. https://doi.org/10.17979/reipe.2015.0.13.145

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

De-Felice, G., Burrai, J., Mari, E., Paloni, F., Lausi, G., Giannini, A.M., & Quaglieri, A. (2022). How do adolescents use social networks and what are their potential dangers? A qualitative study of gender differences. International Journal Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(9), 5691. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095691

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Elias, A.S., & Gill, R. (2017). Beauty surveillance: The digital self-monitoring cultures of neoliberalism. European Journal of Cultural Studies, 21(1), 59-77. https://doi.org/10.1177/1367549417705604

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Escobar, M., & Martinez-Uribe, L. (2020). Network coincidence analysis: The netCoin R Package. Journal of Statistical Software, 93(11), 1-32. https://doi.org/10.18637/jss.v093.i11

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Escofet, A., López, M., & Álvarez, G. (2014). Una mirada crítica sobre los nativos digitales: Análisis de los usos formales de TIC entre estudiantes universitarios. Revista Q. Tecnología, Comunicación, Educación, 9(17), 1-19. https://bit.ly/3UIwdv8

Link Google Scholar

Fernández-de-Arroyabe, A., Lazkano, I., & Eguskiza, L. (2018). Consumo y creación audiovisual en euskera de los adolescentes gipuzkoanos: Sobrevivir en un contexto digital dominado por lenguas hegemónicas. European Public & Social Innovation Review, 3(1), 82-94. https://doi.org/10.31637/epsir.18-1.7

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Floridi, L. (2015). Introduction. In L. Floridi (Ed.), The onlife manifesto: Being human in a hyperconnected era (pp.1-3). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-04093-6

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

García, A., Catalina, B., & Tur, V. (2021). Diferencias de edad y género en el uso y consumo de medios sociales entre los adolescentes. AdComunica, 22, 211-234. https://doi.org/10.6035/2174-0992.2021.22.12

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Garmendia, M., Jiménez, E., Casado, M.A., & Mascheroni, G. (2016). Riesgos y oportunidades en Internet y uso de dispositivos móviles entre menores españoles (2010-2015). Red.es/Universidad del País Vasco. https://bit.ly/3Rl8GyO

Link Google Scholar

Gurumurthy, A., & Chami, N. (2019). Development justice in the digital paradigm: Agenda 2030 and beyond. Development, 62, 19-28. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41301-019-00203-6

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Hernández, M.J., Renés, P., Campos, R., & González-Larrea, B. (2021). Privacidad en las redes sociales: Análisis de los riesgos de auto-representación digital de adolescentes españoles. Revista Latina de Comunicación Social, 79, 133-154. https://doi.org/10.4185/RLCS-2021-1528

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Herrero-Curiel, E., & La-Rosa, L. (2022). Secondary education students and media literacy in the age of disinformation. [Los estudiantes de secundaria y la alfabetización mediática en la era de la desinformación]. Comunicar, 73, 95-106. https://doi.org/10.3916/C73-2022-08

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

INE (Ed.) (2020). Encuesta sobre equipamiento y uso de tecnologi?as de informacio?n y comunicacio?n en los hogares. INE. https://bit.ly/3reRccz

Link Google Scholar

INE (Ed.) (2021). Encuesta sobre equipamiento y uso de tecnologi?as de informacio?n y comunicacio?n en los hogares. INE. https://bit.ly/3xZPiQM

Link Google Scholar

Kapidzic, S., & Herring, S.C. (2015). Race, gender, and self-presentation in teen profile photographs. New Media & Society, 17(6), 958-976. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444813520301

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Kirschner, P., & De-Bruyckere, P. (2017). The myths of the digital native and the multitasker. Teaching and Teacher Education, 67, 135-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2017.06.001

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Kriger, D., & Keyser-Verreault, A. (2022). What is gender? In G. Kerr (Ed.), Gender-based violence in children’s sport (pp. 24-29). Routledge. https://bit.ly/3FP7cKE

Link Google Scholar

López-de-Ayala, M.C., Catalina, B., & Pastor, Y. (2022). Problematic Internet use the preference for online social interaction and the motives for using the Internet as a mediating factor. Communication & Society, 35(2), 1-17. https://doi/10.15581/003.35.2.1-17

Link Google Scholar

López-de-Ayala, M.C., Vizcaíno-Laorga, R., & Montes, M. (2020). Hábitos y actitudes de los jóvenes ante las redes sociales: influencia del sexo, edad y clase social. Profesional de la información, 29(6), e290604. https://doi.org/10.3145/epi.2020.nov.04

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Mace, R. (2020). Reframing the ordinary: Cyberspace and education. Teoría de la Educación, 32(2), 109-129. https://doi.org/10.14201/teri.22473

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Magnuson, J., Dundes, M., & Dundes, L. (2008). Gender differences in social portraits’ reflected in myspace profiles. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 11(2), 239-241. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2007.0089

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Manago, A., Graham, M., Greenfield, P., & Salikman, G. (2008). Self-presentation and gender on MySpace. Journal of Applied Development Psychology, 29(6), 446-458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2008.07.001

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Meeus, A., Beullens, K., & Eggermont, S. (2019). Like me (please?): Connecting online self-presentation to pre- and early adolescents’ self-esteem. New Media & Society, 21(11-12), 2386-2403. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444819847447

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Memon, A.M., Sharma, S.G., Mohite, S.S., & Jain, S. (2018). The role of online social networking on deliberate self-harm and suicidality in adolescents: A systematized review of the literature. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 60(4), 384-392. https://doi.org/10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_414_17

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Mena, E., & Velasco, L.C. (2017). Gender violence and social networks in adolescents. The case of the province of Malaga. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 237, 44-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2017.02.009

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Menezes, M., Arvanitidis P., Smaniotto, C., & Weinstein, Z. (2019). Teenagers’ perception of public spaces and their practices in ICTs uses. In C. Smaniotto, I. Šuklje, T. Kenna, M. Lange, K. Ioannidis, G. Maksymiuk, & M. Waal (Eds), CyberParks – The interface between people, places and technology (pp. 109-119). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-13417-4_9

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Millán-Ghisleri, E., & Caro-Samada, C. (2022). Prevención de la violencia y el acoso en la red en adolescentes: estrategias familiares de crecimiento personal. Teoría de la Educación, 34(1), 105-124. https://doi.org/10.14201/teri.26157

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Muñoz, J.M. (2021). Identity in a hyperconnected society. Risks and educative proposals. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85788-2

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Muñoz, J.M., Torrijos, P., Serrate-González, S., & Murciano, A. (2020). Entornos digitales, conectividad y educación. Percepción y gestión del tiempo en la construcción de la identidad digital de la juventud. Revista Española de Pedagogía, 78(277), 457-476. https://doi.org/10.22550/REP78-3-2020-07

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Oberst, U., Chamarro, A., & Renau, V. (2016). Gender stereotypes 2.0: Self-representations of adolescents on Facebook. [Estereotipos de género 2.0: Auto-representaciones de adolescentes en Facebook]. Comunicar, 48, 81-90. https://doi.org/10.3916/C48-2016-08

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

ONTSI (Ed.) (2021). Estudio sobre usos y actitudes de consumo de contenidos digitales en España 2021. Ministerio de Asuntos Económicos y Transformación Digital. https://doi.org/10.30923/094-21-023-9_2021

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Parra, G., Ruedas, J., & Serrate-González, S. (2021). Las redes sociales y su influencia en la construcción de la identidad de género: Diseño de una App móvil como recurso social y educativo dirigida al contexto familiar. In J.M. Muñoz (Ed.), Identity in a hyperconnected society (pp. 155-166). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85788-2_11

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Pérez-Curiel, C., & Sanz-Marcos, P. (2019). Estrategia de marca, influencers y nuevos públicos en la comunicación de moda y lujo. Tendencia Gucci en Instagram. Prisma Social, 24, 1-24. https://bit.ly/3iPq2YY

Link Google Scholar

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital inmigrants. On the Horizon, 9(5), 2-6. https://doi.org/10.1108/10748120110424816

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Quazi, A., Hasan, N., Abayomi-Alli, O., & Hardaker, G. (2022). Gender differences in information and communication technology use & skills: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Education and Information Technologies, 27, 4225-4258. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10775-x

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Rambaree, K., & Knez, I. (2017). Young people’s identity & Facebook behaviour: The role of gender and ethnicity. Cogent Social Sciences, 3(1), 1359895. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2017.1359895

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Renau, V., Carbonell, X., & Oberst, U. (2012). Redes sociales on-line, género y construcción del self. Revista de Psicología, Ciencias de la Educación y del Deporte, 30(2), 97-107. https://bit.ly/3Sld3ek

Link Google Scholar

Rideout, V., Peebles, A., Mann, S., & Robb, M.B. (2022). The common sense census: Media use by tweens and teens, 2021. Common Sense. https://bit.ly/3dPMHCl

Link Google Scholar

Rowlands, I., Nicholas, D., Williams, P., Huntington, Pl, Fieldhouse, M., Gunter, B., Withey, R., Jamali, H.R., Dobrowolski, T., & Tenopir, C. (2008). The Google generation: The information behaviour of the researcher of the future. Aslib Proceedings, 60(4), 290-310. https://doi.org/10.1108/00012530810887953

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Sánchez-Rojo, A., & Martín-Lucas, J. (2021). Educación y TIC: Entre medios y fines. Una reflexión postcrítica. Educaçao & Sociedade, 42. https://doi.org/10.1590/es.239802

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Sánchez-Rojo, A., García-del-Dujo, A., Muñoz, J.M., & Dacosta, A. (2022). Grammars of "onlife" identities: Educational re-significations. Studies in Philosophy and Education, 41(1), 3-19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11217-021-09811-7

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Santos, E. (2018). Construcción de la identidad digital a través del yo-objeto: Proceso de auto-objetivación y su relación con la cosificación del cuerpo de las mujeres. Teknokultura, 15(2), 301-309. https://doi.org/10.5209/TEKN.59724

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Savoia, E., Harriman, N.W., Su, M., Cote, T., & Shortland, N. (2021). Adolescents’ exposure to online risks: Gender disparities and vulnerabilities related to online behaviors. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 18(11), 5786. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18115786

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Schmidt, M., Frank, L., & Gimpel, H. (2021). How adolescents cope with technostress: A mixed-methods approach. International Journal of Electronic Commerce, 25(2), 154-180. https://doi.org/10.1080/10864415.2021.1887696

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Schofield, D., & Kupiainen, R. (2015). Young people’s narratives of media and identity: Media-graphy as identity work in upper secondary school. Nordicom Review, 36(1), 79-93. https://doi.org/10.1515/nor-2015-0007

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Serpe, R.T, & Stryker, S. (2011). The symbolic interactionist perspective and identity theory. In S. Schwartz, K. Luyckx & V. Vignoles (Eds), Handbook of identity theory and research (pp. 225-248). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7988-9_10

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Siddiq, F., & Scherer, R. (2019). Is there a gender gap? A meta-analysis of the gender differences in students' ICT literacy. Educational Research Review, 27, 205-217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2019.03.007

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

UNICEF España (Ed.) (2021). El impacto del uso de la tecnología en la adolescencia: Relaciones, riesgos y oportunidades. Un estudio comprensivo e inclusivo hacia el uso saludable de las TRIC. UNICEF España. https://bit.ly/3Y6hKfo

Link Google Scholar

Uski, S., & Lampinen, A. (2014). Social norms and self-presentation on social network sites: Profile work in action. New Media & Society, 18(3), 447-464. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444814543164

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Vannucci, A., Simpson, E.J., Gagnon, S., & Ohannessian, C.M. (2020). Social media use and risky behaviors in adolescents: A meta-analysis. Journal of adolescence, 79, 258-274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescencia.2020.01.014

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Vansieleghem, N., Vlieghe, J., & Zahn, M. (2019). Education in the age of the screen. Possibilities and transformations in technology. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429451478

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Winner, L. (1988). The whale and the reactor: A search for limits in an age of high technology. University of Chicago Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/3105261

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Wright, M.F. (2017). The role of technologies, behaviors, gender, and gender stereotype traits in adolescents’ cyber aggression. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 35(7-8), 1719-1738. https://doi/10.1177/0886260517696858

Link Google Scholar

Åberg, E., Koivulaab, A., & Kukkonena, I. (2020). A feminine burden of perfection? Appearance-related pressures on social networking sites. Telematics and Informatics, 46, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2019.101319

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Fundref

GIPEP-Processes, Spaces and Educational Practices Research Group (GR209). University of Salamanca. This research is part of the R+D+I projects CONECT-ID (PGC2018-097884-B-I00), NATEC-ID (PID2021-122993NB-I00) and NATUR-TEC KIDS LIVINGLAB (TED2021-130300A-C22), financed by the Ministry of Science and Innovation.

Crossmark

Technical information

Received: 28-09-2022

Revised: 14-10-2022

Accepted: 29-11-2022

OnlineFirst: 30-01-2023

Publication date: 01-04-2023

Article revision time: 16 days | Average time revision issue 75: 32 days

Article acceptance time: 62 days | Average time of acceptance issue 75: 93 days

Preprint editing time: 140 days | Average editing time preprint issue 75: 171 days

Article editing time: 185 days | Average editing time issue 75: 216 days

Metrics

Metrics of this article

Views: 55049

Abstract readings: 52407

PDF downloads: 2642

Full metrics of Comunicar 75

Views: 587923

Abstract readings: 570895

PDF downloads: 17028

Cited by