Adolescent Development and Psychological Mechanisms in Interactive Media Use

This chapter outlines the research program in focusing on how today's new communication technology intersects with adolescent developmental issues. It first examines how newer communication technology appeals to adolescents' developmental needs, such as the role of user-generated content in the so-called imaginary audience, identity development, and peers' influence. Then, the chapter sketches several aspects of new communication technology in how they tap into adolescent developmental issues. It outlines a few underlying mechanisms at work in adolescents' new media use such as wishful identification, perceived realism, and emotion regulation. The chapter describes how creative use of newer communication technology provides opportunities to improve and enhance the methodology of media research. It outlines a schematic representation of a theoretical model representing a Cyclic Process Model on Adolescent Media and Peer Communication (CPM-A-MPC).