Ch3 intimacy

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Chapter 3 INTIMACY By: Brittany Quirk

Transcript of Ch3 intimacy

Page 1: Ch3 intimacy

Chapter 3 INTIMACY

By: Brittany Quirk

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Purpose

To explore the ways teens talk about their use of new media to craft, pursue, and end intimate relationships.

Examine how the domestication of technology influences and is influenced by contemporary teen courtship practices.

To find and discuss themes in relationship practices and technology, from conducted interviews and observations.

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Teens and New Media Teens craft complex

emotional and social realities publically and privately on and offline.

New media plays a large role in meeting, flirting, and going out, because they can pursue casual offline acquaintances.

Can facilitate communication that might otherwise not be permitted by parents.

Offers teens the ability to talk beyond the earshot of ones parents and other adults.

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3 Primary TechnologiesTeens Intimacy practices primarily utilize three technologies: 1. Mobile phones-private channels of communication. 2. Instant messaging- maintain frequent casual contact with

their intimates. 3. Social network sites- venues for representations of

intimacy and provides ways to signal intensity of a relationship in visual and textual ways.

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Meeting and flirting New media often plays an important

role in the beginning stages of a serious relationship and in casual relationships.

Allows teens feel less vulnerable by allowing communication without meeting face-to-face.

Ex. If a teen is interested in someone they might not know well, new media allows them to interact with them in a more casual manner.

Digital communication can act as a casual follow up after meeting someone new.

New media also offers teens a place to research a potential love interest via their social network.

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New Opportunities

Meeting only online is not the norm, yet people do it. Internet allows teens to meet others like

themselves. Youth who previously felt unheard in their

communities, get the opportunity to participate in other ways.

New media is an important way in which gay teens can identify potential partners and affords them a level of independence.

Allows couples to maintain a relationship that might be geographically challenging.

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Going Out

Technology also plays a role in teens maintenance of long-term relationships.

Most teens have high expectations when it comes to frequent contact and availability of their significant other.

The seriousness of a relationship is made evident by a couples willingness to publically acknowledge it.

Teens demonstrate affection through private and public media channels.

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Online Rules for Going Out

In the beginning stages of courtship, use casual online language by communicating with intentional ambiguity to create a layer of casualness and protection.

Because of increased independence offered by the use of mobile phones, Frequent check-ins are expected from a significant other.

If a relationship is meaningful enough, an affirmation of that relationship is to be done online both by and for a significant other; which will act as a Hands-off signal to other teens. (this public declaration is usually negotiated offline prior to its appearance)

To show dedication to the relationship, it is necessary to leave public messages for and post pictures of significant others frequently.

Be willing to share your passwords with your significant other, so that they can monitor your communication.

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“Teens current use of new media might be a unique moment in the recent history of dating practices.”146

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Breaking Up

Breakups are usually mediated. After a breakup, the digital remnants must be swept to

deal with access to and the continuing digital presence of their former significant others.

It is not respectful to break up with someone via social network, instant message, or text message.

Digital representation tends to outlast a relationship. Break ups can be done passively through status changes

or publically through public messages and announcements.

After a relationship, teens tend to use the same networked publics.

Youth tend to monitor each other via their social network after a break up.

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“While teens stop engaging in continuous contact after a breakup, they still use new media to

communicate indirectly with each other and their larger mediated publics.”(138)

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Vulnerability Since many relationships include internet monitoring by

both parties, a certain vulnerability is created. New media can simultaneously increase teens vulnerability

and their control over their emotional exposure, allowing them to form strong emotional connections with each one another.

This vulnerability can also open them up to being victimized by their friends, acquaintances, and other adults.

Social media allows teens to feel less exposed, because they can text or leave a message on their Facebook page instead of calling and leaving a nervous message.

Social media also makes teens are also more vulnerable to stalkers, strangers, and predators.

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Questions to Consider… Do you feel as though you participate in any of

the practices that are common among the teens described in this chapter?

Do you find the amount of independence offered by the availability of new media to teens unsettling?

Do you think any of the practices are unhealthy or unrealistic?

How do you think your relationships might have been had you grown up in this same digital era?