<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Mediated interaction plays a significant role in the social life of adolescents in Norway. The purpose of the present article is to examine the qualities of mediated interaction and the integration of mediated and immediate social spheres, suggesting that the ability to juggle between online and offline social spheres has become a characteristic element of social competence in network societies. More specifically, the analysis looks at the use of personal media for maintaining and developing existing social relationships and for extending social networks. Qualitative interviews with 20 Norwegian adolescents constitute the empirical base. The analysis explains how interaction takes on mundane forms, confirming the value of social relationships between in-person meetings. Moreover, it is argued that mediated communication differs from face-to-face communication, not by being less meaningful, but by enabling other forms of disclosing practices. Mediated forms of communication, hence, have an influence on the character of social ties and networks.</p></abstract>

Mediated interaction plays a significant role in the social life of adolescents in Norway. The purpose of the present article is to examine the qualities of mediated interaction and the integration of mediated and immediate social spheres, suggesting that the ability to juggle between online and offline social spheres has become a characteristic element of social competence in network societies. More specifically, the analysis looks at the use of personal media for maintaining and developing existing social relationships and for extending social networks. Qualitative interviews with 20 Norwegian adolescents constitute the empirical base. The analysis explains how interaction takes on mundane forms, confirming the value of social relationships between in-person meetings. Moreover, it is argued that mediated communication differs from face-to-face communication, not by being less meaningful, but by enabling other forms of disclosing practices. Mediated forms of communication, hence, have an influence on the character of social ties and networks.

Becoming more Like Friends

Ph.D., Researcher, SINTEF ICT, Cooperatuive and Trusted Systems, Oslo

Nordicom Review

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

A Qualitative Study of Personal Media and Social Life

Mediated interaction plays a significant role in the social life of adolescents in Norway. The purpose of the present article is to examine the qualities of...

Becoming more Like Friends

Publié en ligne: 07 févr. 2017

Pages: 201 - 216

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nor-2017-0147

Mots clés
youth, social networks, personal media, network society, communication

© 2009 Marika Lüders, published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Becoming more Like Friends

Publié en ligne: 07 févr. 2017

Pages: 201 - 216

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nor-2017-0147

Mots clésyouth, social networks, personal media, network society, communication

© 2009 Marika Lüders, published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Mots clés
youth, social networks, personal media, network society, communication