Adolescence, Internet Use, Social Adjustment and Emotional Intelligence

Abstract

Instead of merely focusing on the use of new media itself, attention should also be given to the users in terms of their ability to interact with other people. The effect of the internet could be an increased variance in social adjustment rather than an average improvement or deterioration. Adolescent internet users might be well adjusted, as they report higher levels of social activity and network involvement; however, internet use and social involvement tend to vary according to education, income and age. Therefore other variables need to be investigated in order to determine the extent to which social isolation and behaviour problems are a result of internet use, regardless of any inherently social disposition on the part of the user. It is not the aim of this article to investigate whether socially isolated adolescents were deficient in social skills even before taking up the internet. The purpose is to investigate the extent to which emotional and interpersonal skills are related to internet use. The main relevant argument is that the internet will cut adolescent users off from genuine social relationships and ultimately lead to impoverished participation in social life. Counter-arguments highlight the potential of new media to enhance adolescents’ social lives as it enables them to engage more easily in communication with their peer group. The importance of peers is one feature of adolescence. Adolescents spend a great deal of time with friends and place a high value on these relationships. In order to determine whether internet use does in fact have a negative impact on social adjustment, it is important to understand what emotions are, and what exactly constitutes emotional intelligence. When used responsibly, the internet can be a great place to interact socially. Consequently, this generation requires a unique brand of education that will enable them to realize their personal dreams and serve the society they are a part of.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n23p2327