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'TikTok Isn't a Hobby': Social Media(ted) Connections, Identities, and Leisure among Contemporary Canadian High School-Aged Youth

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Title: 'TikTok Isn't a Hobby': Social Media(ted) Connections, Identities, and Leisure among Contemporary Canadian High School-Aged Youth
Language: English
Authors: Amber-Lee Varadi (ORCID 0009-0006-8527-1337)
Source: Youth & Society. 2025 57(8):1568-1590.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 23
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools
Secondary Education
Descriptors: Social Media, Telecommunications, Handheld Devices, Well Being, Interpersonal Relationship, Self Concept, Leisure Time, Friendship, Self Expression, Peer Relationship, Foreign Countries, High School Students
Geographic Terms: Canada
DOI: 10.1177/0044118X251338315
ISSN: 0044-118X
1552-8499
Abstract: In a cultural context where youth spend almost as much time online as they do participating in any other daily activity, debates have emerged regarding the effects of cellphone and social media use on the well-being of today's young Internet "addicts." This research centres the narratives of 15 Canadian high school-aged youth to explore how they utilize cellphones and social media to facilitate (1) social connection, (2) identity expression, and (3) leisure, and consider how youth think about these technologies' capacities to foster these elements of their lives. Findings reveal that certain online connections are used to strengthen friendships, yet the "always online" quality of social media can result in experiences of "phubbing" that make offline interactions awkward. Online acts of self-expression were described as meticulously edited to protect oneself against negative peer judgement. Finally, youth's media consumption practices suggested rest and fun are best achieved without cellphones.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1486476
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: 'TikTok Isn't a Hobby': Social Media(ted) Connections, Identities, and Leisure among Contemporary Canadian High School-Aged Youth
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Amber-Lee+Varadi%22">Amber-Lee Varadi</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8527-1337">0009-0006-8527-1337</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Youth+%26+Society%22"><i>Youth & Society</i></searchLink>. 2025 57(8):1568-1590.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Media%22">Social Media</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Telecommunications%22">Telecommunications</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Handheld+Devices%22">Handheld Devices</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Well+Being%22">Well Being</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interpersonal+Relationship%22">Interpersonal Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Concept%22">Self Concept</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Leisure+Time%22">Leisure Time</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Friendship%22">Friendship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Expression%22">Self Expression</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Peer+Relationship%22">Peer Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+School+Students%22">High School Students</searchLink>
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  Data: In a cultural context where youth spend almost as much time online as they do participating in any other daily activity, debates have emerged regarding the effects of cellphone and social media use on the well-being of today's young Internet "addicts." This research centres the narratives of 15 Canadian high school-aged youth to explore how they utilize cellphones and social media to facilitate (1) social connection, (2) identity expression, and (3) leisure, and consider how youth think about these technologies' capacities to foster these elements of their lives. Findings reveal that certain online connections are used to strengthen friendships, yet the "always online" quality of social media can result in experiences of "phubbing" that make offline interactions awkward. Online acts of self-expression were described as meticulously edited to protect oneself against negative peer judgement. Finally, youth's media consumption practices suggested rest and fun are best achieved without cellphones.
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      – SubjectFull: Social Media
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      – SubjectFull: Self Expression
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