One-third of American teens use Twitter and another third use Google Plus. Instagram and Snapchat also have become increasingly important, with 52% of teens using Instagram and 41% using Snapchat. Facebook is the dominant platform, with 71% of all teens using it. Social media is an important venue for interaction and conversation among America’s youth. This chapter takes an in-depth look at the role of social media in teens’ friendships, looking at teen friendships more broadly defined. Given the thorough integration of social media into the lives of the majority of American teens, it is no surprise that these sites play an important role in the establishment of friendships and the everyday back and forth of peer relationships.
