The inordinate spike in the teen and adolescent presence online is both staggering and continuing as we introduce more and more social media sites into daily lives. There seem to be two prevailing theories on how this trend may be affecting teen social development, rich-get-richer and social compensation theories. Rich-get-richer refers to socially adept and confident teens with well-established peer groups using social networking sites to maintain close relationships and keep in contact with long distance friends. On the other hand, the social compensation theory states that more introverted teens will use these sites to anonymously self-disclose personal feelings and make friends in a less intimidating environment than the real world (Anderson-Butcher, 2010). There is strong evidence for the existence of both effects on teens but could both these theories actually be hurtful when put in context of healthy teen social development? Theoretically, the growing options of teens to be able to connect with their peers with impressive immediacy, synchronicity, and ease of access would only further their social development, but this online connection is not how adolescents progress socially in such vital years. The truth is, over dependence on online relationships in the developmental stages of teenage years has caused some teens to have damaged or altered social abilities in the real world, a daunting reality that can bring about serious consequences as these teens grow into adulthood. .
Beginning around junior high, from ages 12-14, teens are less concerned with interpersonal connections and more concerned with group cohesion. Widespread peer acceptance and overall popularity amongst peers are their biggest concerns in these early years (Milkman, Wanberg, 2012). During these years, the majority of adolescents are generally just becoming aware of social media sites and just beginning to use them.
