Although many of us girls (and maybe some guys!) are past the Seventeen magazine stage, the popular magazine released a pertinent study, surveying 10,000 guys and girls ages 16 to 21, that concluded that “Facebook plays an important part in how amorous teens make a connection.” Many of us do fall into this age range so perhaps this study could be relatable to your own personal life. According to this article “Boy Meets Girl: How Facebook Functions in Modern Romance” from Mashable.com, Seventeen magazine had pretty substantial findings that included “10% of people have been dumped over Facebook, and the same number would just change their relationship status to ‘single’ to cut a lover loose.” The study did not include how long these relationships lasted for or the ages of the parties in the relationship, which may play a role in sorting out that 10% of responders who have been dumped over Facebook. The study from Seventeen also found that “72% of those surveyed said that talking to someone online brings you closer to them [in real life].” This last finding was a bit surprising, but somewhat sensible, as many people complain about how Facebook and social media mediums are completely replacing communication. However, I can see that talking to someone on Facebook is communication to them nonetheless; sharing thoughts and ideas can be done over the internet which may still lead to an online bond.
Coming from a teen magazine or not, the study underlines the fact that internet communication is becoming a strong branch of personal human interactions.
I agree with what you wrote, even though seventeen magazine is not the best source of information; it is a great source of youth information since so many young girls subscribe to it.
It’s very interesting the social norms of dating that sites like facebook give to a younger generation and the way relationships are fortified and maintained.
The quote you gave about facebook bringing a relationship closer together is very symbolic of the emphasizes we give to facebook and the impact it has on our lives and especially the lives of teens in high school who have grown up with access to myspace, facebook and instant messaging services.
I do not understand why you would claim that seventeen magazine is not a good source of information. I have not read the magazine in years, so maybe you are correct, but do they not perform accurate research on such topics? Why should they be discredited? I am sure that their researches take the appropriate steps to gain their information, although I could be wrong.
Anyway, I can definitely understand why someone would feel like facebook, or internet communication in general, can seem to be more personal than actual face-to-face communication. On the internet, while hiding behind a computer screen, it is much easier for people to let their guard down and open up.
As I am typing this, I feel a sense of confusion. I was about to say that people are less judgmental on the internet, though I do not think this is truly the case. People can be extremely judgmental, often times not really realizing the pain they are causing someone else. I feel a contradictory statement should be looked at; the fact that people are more, as well as less, judgmental on the internet. Some act out with the sole intention of hurting others, while some have personal relationships, allowing themselves to open up, and not be judged on appearances (unless they want to be). I think the notion of judgment on the internet is an extremely interesting phenomenon.
I agree, communicating online has been more prevalent than actual face to face conversations. And yeah, I do see people always changing their relationship status from single to in a relationship to open relationship or even to it’s complicated. Then on the other hand we see those young kids between the ages of 14 and 17 updating their relationship statuses to “in a relationship” or “married” to … and the person who they are married to is one of their friends and to add to that, they have kids who are their friends also. : ) Makes sense? Most of these relationships that start on Facebook, the people are never serious and it might just end up as a fling or something that lasts a week or even less. Yeah, I think it is ridiculous because people tend to put or display things that others or their age groups or friends would want to see. It’s all done with the purpose of grabbing the attention of others. I do agree that people also break up with each other on Facebook, which is pretty funny to me because their status would change from in a relationship to single and then a few days later it would be ” in a relationship”
I can’t comment about if the magazine is credible or not because I have never read that magazine so to me, I have no idea how resourceful or how true the information is.
In conclusion, relationship statuses are just there for the purpose of flaunting or grabbing attention, I mean if you are in a relationship, the whole world, wouldn’t even care so why fill that out?
Like Professor McKinney mentioned, you are in a relationship with the other person and that’s all that matters, it doesn’t mean that the whole of your friend’s list on Facebook needs to know.