The Spiral of Positive Feedback: Go-Along Interviews About Adolescents’ Perceptions of and Reactions to Alcohol Posts on Social Media

Abstract

Go-along interviews among adolescents ( N = 26, M age = 16.31, SD = .83) were conducted to examine how adolescents interpret alcohol posts in terms of appropriateness and how this, in turn, plays a role in adolescents’ reactions toward alcohol posts on public and private social media entries. The findings of this study, first, indicate that alcohol posts were classified as appropriate or inappropriate based on the amount of alcohol and the displayed behavior in the post. Second, most posts, including inappropriate ones, received positive or no feedback. Moreover, adolescents deliberately seemed to withhold negative feedback out of fear of being misjudged by peers. Still, negative reactions were expressed more quickly in safer off- and online environments (i.e., face-to-face conversation and online chat messages) because they were visible to close friends only. This is important in view of prevention as it unravels the interesting role of private environments in stimulating negative interpersonal communication.

“Boys are Allowed to be Drunk”: Exploring Gender Norms in Adolescents' Alcohol References Across Different Social Media Platforms and Message Types

“…The affordances literature focuses on the fact that ephemeral messages lead to higher perceptions of anonymity and privacy control (Vanherle et al, 2022;Waddell, 2016). This makes individuals more comfortable with sharing transgressive and potentially incriminating posts related to, for instance, excessive drinking and intoxication (Geusens & Vranken, 2021;Vanherle et al, 2021). However, our findings suggest that even ephemeral message types reflect and reinforce stereotypical gender norms.…”

“…Apart from the fact that young people may perceive ephemeral and private messages to be more appropriate outlets for depicting what might be considered "unfeminine" and atypical behaviors, it is also possible that the depictions of these behaviors are less likely to elicit negative feedback. For instance, recent evidence shows that audiences are more likely to ignore portrayals of extreme behaviors in ephemeral and private messages than in persistent messages (Vanherle, Beullens, & Hendriks, 2021). This could imply that it has become more socially appropriate for women to depict a wider variety of gendered portrayals in these messages.…”

“…Additionally, we composed five groups of individuals who were under the legal drinking age of 16, and five groups of individuals who 16 or older. Taking the legal drinking age into consideration is important as it largely determines how individuals communicate about and interpret alcohol posts (Vanherle et al, 2021). Lastly, participants in the friendship groups had similar drinking experiences since this may substantially impact normativity perceptions surrounding alcohol posts (Vanherle et al, 2021).…”

“…Taking the legal drinking age into consideration is important as it largely determines how individuals communicate about and interpret alcohol posts (Vanherle et al, 2021). Lastly, participants in the friendship groups had similar drinking experiences since this may substantially impact normativity perceptions surrounding alcohol posts (Vanherle et al, 2021). Participants in the intake survey indicated how often they consumed alcohol-(1) never to (5) four or more times a weekand how many alcoholic drinks they typically consumed: 1) One or two units to (5) 10 or more units.…”

Using social network methodology to examine the effects of exposure to alcohol-related social media content on alcohol use: A critical review.

“…In fact, only 0.5%–7% of content features negative experiences (e.g., passing out on the street) related to drinking. Most adolescents and young adults find most alcohol content acceptable overall, but this can vary depending on the quantity of alcohol shown/discussed and the behaviors displayed/discussed (Vanherle, Beullens, et al, 2021; Wolfer, 2014). Content showing larger quantities of alcohol and more extreme drunken behavior (e.g., stumbling while walking, vomiting) was considered excessive and inappropriate.…”