“I’m a Stalker and Proud of It”: Adolescent Girls’ Perceptions of the Mixed Utilities Associated With Internet and Social Networking Use in Their Dating Relationships

Abstract

Social media provides a context within which adolescents enact key developmental tasks, yet the role technology plays in adolescent dating relationships is a relatively new field of investigation. In-depth interviews were conducted with adolescent girls (N = 70; White: 42.1%, Black: 37.1%, Hispanic or Latino: 4.3%, mixed race: 11.4%) to explore motivations for, and engagement with, technology in the context of dating dynamics. Girls were asked, “Do you think the Internet has influenced your ideas about dating and dating relationships?” Three main themes emerged, each with subthemes: Theme 1 addressed the Positive Utilities of Social Media in Dating Relationships, Theme 2 addressed the Negative Utilities of Social Media in Dating Relationships, and Theme 3 addressed Mixed Utilities—The Intersection of Positive and Negative Utilities. Findings present a complex understanding of teens’ perceptions of social media tools, particularly their mixed utilities.