Mapping the social media behaviour of Serbian adolescents: Usage patterns, affective experiences, and communication preferences

This study examines the dynamics of social media usage among adolescents in Serbia, focusing on their usage habits, affective experiences and communication preferences. The data were obtained by an online survey of 391 adolescents (63.9% girls; Mage = 16.09, SD = 1.36) at the beginning of 2023. Thro...

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Main Authors: Mojović Zdravković Kristina, Krstić Ksenija
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy, Institute of Psychology 2025-01-01
Series:Psihološka Istraživanja
Subjects:
Online Access:https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/0352-7379/2025/0352-73792501005M.pdf
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author Mojović Zdravković Kristina
Krstić Ksenija
author_facet Mojović Zdravković Kristina
Krstić Ksenija
author_sort Mojović Zdravković Kristina
collection DOAJ
description This study examines the dynamics of social media usage among adolescents in Serbia, focusing on their usage habits, affective experiences and communication preferences. The data were obtained by an online survey of 391 adolescents (63.9% girls; Mage = 16.09, SD = 1.36) at the beginning of 2023. Through questionnaire data analysis and qualitative content analysis, we explore the adolescents' engagement with various social media platforms, highlighting Instagram as their predominant choice. Through the investigation of the nuanced perspectives on online versus faceto-face communication, the study reveals that, while online communication offers practicality and efficiency, face-to-face interaction is valued for its emotional depth and transparency. The results on the frequency of use and the activities on Social Network Sites (SNSs), as well as on the accompanying affective experiences, indicate that, among the adolescents in our sample, we can distinguish among three groups of SNSs users: "SNS Balancers", "SNS Enthusiasts" and "SNS Ambivalents". Each cluster exhibits unique patterns of SNSs usage and affective experiences, highlighting the diverse ways in which adolescents interact with online platforms. The research thus underscores the need for nuanced longitudinal investigations into adolescent online behaviour, suggesting potential avenues for future exploration.
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language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy, Institute of Psychology
record_format Article
series Psihološka Istraživanja
spelling doaj-art-4ed2738f71294163b55ad1b2e4ae8aad2025-08-20T03:50:11ZengUniversity of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy, Institute of PsychologyPsihološka Istraživanja0352-73792560-306X2025-01-0128153010.5937/psistra0-517600352-73792501005MMapping the social media behaviour of Serbian adolescents: Usage patterns, affective experiences, and communication preferencesMojović Zdravković Kristina0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6762-0576Krstić Ksenija1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3604-270XUniversity of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy, Department of Psychology, SerbiaUniversity of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy, Department of Psychology, SerbiaThis study examines the dynamics of social media usage among adolescents in Serbia, focusing on their usage habits, affective experiences and communication preferences. The data were obtained by an online survey of 391 adolescents (63.9% girls; Mage = 16.09, SD = 1.36) at the beginning of 2023. Through questionnaire data analysis and qualitative content analysis, we explore the adolescents' engagement with various social media platforms, highlighting Instagram as their predominant choice. Through the investigation of the nuanced perspectives on online versus faceto-face communication, the study reveals that, while online communication offers practicality and efficiency, face-to-face interaction is valued for its emotional depth and transparency. The results on the frequency of use and the activities on Social Network Sites (SNSs), as well as on the accompanying affective experiences, indicate that, among the adolescents in our sample, we can distinguish among three groups of SNSs users: "SNS Balancers", "SNS Enthusiasts" and "SNS Ambivalents". Each cluster exhibits unique patterns of SNSs usage and affective experiences, highlighting the diverse ways in which adolescents interact with online platforms. The research thus underscores the need for nuanced longitudinal investigations into adolescent online behaviour, suggesting potential avenues for future exploration.https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/0352-7379/2025/0352-73792501005M.pdfadolescentssocial network sites (sns)online communicationfaceto-face communicationaffective experiences on social network sites
spellingShingle Mojović Zdravković Kristina
Krstić Ksenija
Mapping the social media behaviour of Serbian adolescents: Usage patterns, affective experiences, and communication preferences
Psihološka Istraživanja
adolescents
social network sites (sns)
online communication
faceto-face communication
affective experiences on social network sites
title Mapping the social media behaviour of Serbian adolescents: Usage patterns, affective experiences, and communication preferences
title_full Mapping the social media behaviour of Serbian adolescents: Usage patterns, affective experiences, and communication preferences
title_fullStr Mapping the social media behaviour of Serbian adolescents: Usage patterns, affective experiences, and communication preferences
title_full_unstemmed Mapping the social media behaviour of Serbian adolescents: Usage patterns, affective experiences, and communication preferences
title_short Mapping the social media behaviour of Serbian adolescents: Usage patterns, affective experiences, and communication preferences
title_sort mapping the social media behaviour of serbian adolescents usage patterns affective experiences and communication preferences
topic adolescents
social network sites (sns)
online communication
faceto-face communication
affective experiences on social network sites
url https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/0352-7379/2025/0352-73792501005M.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT mojoviczdravkovickristina mappingthesocialmediabehaviourofserbianadolescentsusagepatternsaffectiveexperiencesandcommunicationpreferences
AT krsticksenija mappingthesocialmediabehaviourofserbianadolescentsusagepatternsaffectiveexperiencesandcommunicationpreferences