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To Know that You Are Not Alone: The Effect of Internet Usage on LGBT Youth's Social Capital

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Abstract

This study’s purpose is to examine the relations between LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) youths’ Internet usage and their social capital. Previous research has shown that Internet use assists actors with similar background and interests in forming bonding social capital. Additionally, it has been found that Internet use can assist actors from dissimilar background in forming bridging social capital. This study aims at extending these findings to LGBT youth, who may especially benefit from having a supporting social network while coping with the challenges of forming their sexual orientation/gender identity. For this purpose, an Internet survey was launched, with 82 participants, who were users of forums in the Israeli Gay Youth organization website (IGY). The survey included three measures of Internet use (i.e., amount of time spent in Internet forums, content posting activity, and emotional investment in forums), and questionnaires estimating the degrees of bridging and bonding social capital. In general, we found a positive association between forum usage and social capital. Inasmuch as Internet forum use was more intensive, the reported social capital increased. Furthermore, our findings suggest that more passive forum usage may be sufficient for forming bridging social capital, whereas bonding social capital may necessitate more active usage. These findings suggest that Internet forums designated for LGBT adolescents are important resources that can help them to cope with the special challenges they face at this turning point for their identity, deem to decrease the risk of detrimental outcomes, such as depression or even suicide.

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Objective. The goal of this study was to explore the relationship between Internet connection and frequency of adolescents' daily use and family time and the perceived quality of relations between adolescents and their parents. Methods. Data from the 2000 National Youth Survey conducted in Israel by the Minerva Center for Youth Studies were used. Results. The findings show that frequency of Internet use is negatively related to adolescents' perception of the quality of family relationships. This negative relationship is not explained by a reduction of the time that parents and adolescents' share. Conclusions. It is possible that high frequency of Internet use by adolescents, particularly when it is not being used for learning purposes, creates intergenerational conflicts. This possibility should be explored in future studies.
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Objective. This study examined the relationship between youth leisure activities, peer relations, and prosocial attitudes and the frequency of Internet use among adolescents in Israel. Methods. Hypotheses were tested using data from a face-to-face survey of a representative sample of the Israeli youth population (n= 927) conducted in February 1998. Results. It was found that the lower an individual's level of attachment to close friends and the less prosocial attitudes he/she expressed, the higher was the likelihood of his/her being a frequent Internet user. However, Internet users were more likely than nonusers to participate in social activities such as parties, singers' performances, and sports activities. Conclusions. Contrary to public perceptions it appears that among the adolescent population of Israel, Internet use is not displacing other social activities. However, adolescents who are more socially isolated are more likely to be frequent Internet users. Future research should explore whether for this group, the Internet is being used to overcome individuals' barriers to the formation of social relationships.
Social capital on facebook
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Gay teen endured a daily gantlet
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Curwen, T. (2010). Gay teen endured a daily gantlet. Los Angeles Times, October 8.
Virtually supportive: Self-disclosure of minority sexualities through online social networking sites
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Drushel, B. E. (2010). Virtually supportive: Self-disclosure of minority sexualities through online social networking sites. In C. Pullen & M. Cooper (Eds.), LGBT identity and online new media (pp. 62À72). New York, NY: Routledge.
Legal recognition of same-sex partnerships: A study of national, European and international law (pp. 391À414)
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Gross, A. M. (2001). Challenges to compulsory heterosexuality: Recognition and nonrecognition of same-sex couples in Israeli law. In R. Wintemute & M. Andenaes (Eds.), Legal recognition of same-sex partnerships: A study of national, European and international law (pp. 391À414). Oxford, UK: Hart.