This document summarizes research on how teens use social media and how it impacts their identity and experiences in high school. The researchers surveyed and observed 48 high school students to understand how they navigate different social networks for varied purposes like self-expression, privacy, and learning. They found that teens curate their online identities carefully across platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and Twitter. While social media allows access to school information and peer connections, not using it can lead to isolation. The researchers conclude that teens are becoming adept at interacting online, and teachers could provide guidance to help support this development.

1. Social Networking Sites, Teen
Identity, and High Schools:
Unregulated Social Spaces in Formal
Learning Environments
Vanessa Dennen, Stacey Rutledge,
Lauren Bagdy, Jerrica Rowlett,
Shannon Burnick, Sarah Grace Social
Media
SchoolHome
photo from pixabay: janeb13

2. Research Questions
1. How do teen identities vary across major SNS?
2. What are teen concerns about context collapse
across major SNS?
3. What do teens learn from their SNS
interactions?
4. How are different SNS used in a school
community context?
5. What are the social and academic implications
of use or non-use for different SNS?

3. Method
Participants: 48 HS Students (10th/12th grades)
Data Collection: 3 class periods
• survey
• worksheets
• discussion
• small group discussion
• observations
• field notes

4. 1. Teen Identities and SNS
Instagram is who I
am
Snapchat is my stage Facebook is for family
Twitter is for
following
Youtube is for
watching TV

5. 2. Managing Context Collapse
• privacy blocking
• multiple accounts
• multiple networks
• self-censoring (12th grade)

6. 3. Learning in SNS
• Identity management
• Communication and message design
• Hobby development
• Homework assistance
• Career/future planning

7. 4. SNS in the School Context
• School: Broadcast only, sets official policy and
disciplinary actions
• Teachers: Not connected to students, varied
management
• Technology: wifi blocking & phone
management
• Activity groups: connected, but no virtual
third place (enter: GroupMe)
• Peers: connected and clustered

8. 5. Social and Academic Implications
• Being on social media = access
– info about peers
– info about school events
– extracurricular coordination
– homework assistance
• Not being on social media = isolation or
dependence
– friends serve as knowledge brokers

9. Conclusions and Implications
• Teens are careful online curators and
purposeful online actors
• Teens are learning how to interact
appropriately online
• Potential for adult guidance is great ... if we
could get past our fear of what might happen

10. Thank you
Contact:
vdennen@fsu.edu, @vdennen
sarutledge@fsu.edu
Lb14x@my.fsu.edu