Gen Y: Your 'real' friends are your online friends

The New York Times reports today on a study of MySpace users from the United Kingdom. Here is a quote from the article:

The MySpace study asked social networking users between the ages of 14 and 21 (aka "Generation Y") questions about their interactions both on social networks and in their real life, too. Some 36% of the respondents said they found it easier to talk about themselves online than in the real world, leading them to share more about themselves using technology. This group also felt that their online friends knew more about them, and so, in a sense, were closer than offline friends because they all knew what was going on in each other's lives.

Outside of the social networking sites, the survey respondents overwhelmingly felt ill-at-ease in social groups. A whopping 72% said they felt "left out" and didn't think they fit into any particular group. More than four-fifths (82%) said they moved between four or more different groups of friends in an effort to find acceptance.

So is this…

1. Proof that Internet naysayers are correct that the Web is eroding young people’s ability to communicate effectively face-to-face?, or
2. Proof that Internet advocates are correct that young people are breaking free of local, geographical constraints to find affinity groups that matter to them?

In other words, are these results something about which to be concerned or to celebrate? Both? Neither? Thoughts?

Comments

[Eloise]

1.

Surely the answer must be both and more?

For some, it is doubtless eroding (whether for good or bad) their ability to related to their atomic space peers. However, there's no evidence that it is making these people alienated, they are filling social needs in other ways. I'd also query if those who are having this "eroded" social networking in atomic space are the loners, the outsiders etc. who struggle in normal relationships anyway. They're not necessarily the truly isolated but the ones with a small number of friends and limited social skills. You might stereotype them as the geeks and nerds... I wonder if you went back to the time of our childhoods and looked at us (we'll pretend we're all well adjusted adults) what proportion of us were socially awkward. I'd be on that list for sure.

For others there's no appreciable erosion of their skills according to that research. But there are still opportunities to reach out of their geographic community into others. What's bad about that?

Sure, blame the technology. It's the lazy way out and it plays to the prejudices of the elderly that don't trust change. Which is probably why it's reported in the NYTimes - a throwback to last millennium and the need to spread news and comment slowly by print and paper and physical distribution rather than electronically.

[Gail Poulin]

2.

I would be most interested in hearing more from the Gen Y folks. My sense is that we have called on them to be more "in your face" when present online to garner attention and in the pursuit of individuality. These same folks, would they be more withdrawn IRL as they face their "judges?" Like I said, more from them please, they can tell us better than we can conjecture.

[Marshall]

3.

Is there any factor that anonymity on-line allows more freedom to be accurately introspective? Or is it easier to embellish or state what a person believes about themselves without fear of being "called out" by those that do know our actual selves?
I'm not ready to commit to a degenerative effect on the social skills of the Y generation or to the development of a wider social circle having the greatest impact. It is pretty evident, however, that each holds some truths - both positive and negative.

[Frank]

4.

im a gen y'er and it is incredibly frustrating that everyone i know seems to be incapable of having a challenging conversation...or even a superficial converation for that matter. most people are more concerned with texting than talking with the person that is right there in front of them. my brother, whos a college grad with a decent degree, will go to great lengths to actually avoid talking while still being in a social group (ie movies or youtube always on). i wish cellphones, myspace, and twitter had never been invented.

[Frank]

5.

meant to be a decent job not a decent degree