Les réseaux sociaux et plus particulièrement Facebook sont à l’heure actuelle des moyens de communication très répandus tant pour les adolescents que pour les jeunes adultes. Cette étude qualitative questionne l’investissement des adolescents sur leur profil Facebook. Les objectifs de cette étude sont de mieux connaître les enjeux de l’utilisation de Facebook chez les adolescents, d’observer si les conflits relatifs à l’adolescence y apparaissent et de comparer l’utilisation des adolescents à celle de jeunes adultes.

Vingt adolescents, âgés de 11 à 21ans, ont répondu à un entretien semi-directif qui évaluait d’abord leur utilisation de Facebook, puis qui s’intéressait à la relation à leurs parents et aux pairs. Une analyse thématique des entretiens a ensuite été effectuée.

L’analyse thématique des entretiens a mis en évidence que les adolescents n’utilisent pas Facebook pour lier des relations intimes, mais plutôt pour entretenir les relations déjà existantes dans la vie quotidienne, avec leurs pairs et faire des expériences sociales. Les conflits liés à l’adolescence apparaissent à travers la relation aux parents et l’image de soi. L’usage des adolescents n’est pas très éloigné de celui des jeunes adultes. Sauf pour ce qui relève de la gestion de certaines photos et de l’intimité vis-à-vis des parents.

Facebook, un moyen de communication qui permet de poursuivre les relations et les échanges déjà mis en place dans la journée. Cependant, il faut rester vigilant sur l’usage problématique ou inadapté que certains adolescents peuvent faire de Facebook.

In the last years, a growing concern seems to emerge regarding psychological disturbance that could result from Internet use. Social-networking websites and particularly Facebook are currently very popular and important communication medium for adolescents and young people. This qualitative study focused on adolescents’ investment on their Facebook profile. The aims of this study were: (1) to better understand Facebook use issues among adolescents and young people; (2) to detect conflicts regarding adolescence that might appear on Facebook; (3) and to compare adolescent and young people use.

A semi-structured interview was conducted on 20 adolescents (age ranged from 11 to 21 years old) in order to explore Facebook use as well as parents’ and peers’ relationship. Interviews were transcribed in their entirety and thematic analyses were performed.

Thematic analyses highlighted that adolescents do not use Facebook for creating new intimate relationship, but rather to maintain relationship already existing with peers in offline life and to make social experiment. Adolescence issues appeared through adolescents and parents relationship, and self-image. Some participants reported parental intrusions on their Facebook use, and 35% wanted to protect their intimacy/privacy. Half of the sample posted self-promoting pictures. Furthermore, 70% reported waiting for positive feedbacks when they posted items on Facebook. Four participants reported irrational beliefs linked to “friend’s” responses and comments. Facebook use in adolescents is not so different from young people, except for some type of pictures, and for intimacy towards parents.

For adolescents, Facebook is a communication medium used for extending daily relationship and communications. Adolescents do not use this social network to create intimate relationship. It is rather network communications than dyadic relationship. It is a place of social experience, where adolescents experiment rivalry, jealousies, betrayal, and also social support, and positive or negative self-image. Adolescents show on Facebook a particular self-image. Facebook use in adolescents and parental position underline adolescents’ autonomy. However, problematic or inappropriate use of Facebook in adolescents has to be carefully considered. Future research is needed to identify the long-term psychopathological consequences of Facebook use. Longitudinal studies could provide in-depth examination of potential problems, leading to identification and development of preventative strategies.