Sociality online: an exploratory study into the online habits of young Australians

In response to polarising and emotive debates around young people using the internet, this paper presents recent research findings and offers insight into the issue from the perspective of young people. In early 2010, young people in two rural Victorian towns were asked to complete surveys answering questions about their online habits. Their responses revealed social interaction as a major motivator for going online. These results are analysed in the paper and contextualised within an increasing trend of using the internet to maintain real-world contacts in lieu of more virtually based relationships. The intersection between real-world sociality and online interaction is complex, and a more thorough understanding of this is able to inform debate on the issue of young people negotiating the dangers and opportunities of internet use.