Everyone assumes that all teenagers are constantly flirting and sending flirty messages on their phones – but how social media really changed teen flirting?
A new survey from the Pew Research Center reveals how American teenagers ages 13-17 are using technology to flirt.
This study reveals that the digital sphere is a place where teens meet, date, and break up with their partners. Online communities are not as commonly used for meeting potential partners, but they play an important role in how teens flirt and communicate with them.
As the survey reveals, most relationships start offline. 35% of teens who have dated say they were with someone they met offline, while 24%, or just 8% of all teens, have dated someone they first met online.
However, social media plays a significant role in how flirting takes place. 50% of teens say they have sent a friend request to someone on Facebook or another social networking site to let them know they are interested in them. Or, more simply, as one girl says, you can comment under the photo of someone you are interested in with a heart icon.
Teens who have never been in a relationship report feeling more comfortable expressing their interest in person (39%), sending friend requests on social media (37%), interacting on social networks (34%), or sharing interesting and funny things (31%).
On the other hand, because online flirting can turn into harassment, many teens have blocked or unfriended people. Of all girls, 35% have blocked or unfriended someone for inappropriate behavior. But only 16% of boys have done the same.
The research shows that boys, more than girls, see the internet as a more likely medium for developing relationships. Among teens who have been in a relationship, 65% of boys say social media makes them feel more connected to their significant other, compared to 52% of girls. And 50% of boys say they feel more emotionally connected to their partners through social media, compared to 37% of girls.
