Examining the Role of Internet Use in Social Life of Young People in Hong Kong

Professor Darius K. S. Chan
Ph.D., Illinois
Department of Psychology
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Abstract

Internet use has become increasingly popular throughout the world, particularly among young people. In this seminar, I will present findings from a series of studies on Internet-related behavior among adolescents and young adults in Hong Kong. Specifically, we examined: (1) how online friendships compare to face-to-face friendships in terms of relationship quality, (2) the psychosocial correlates of online pornography viewing, one form of online activity that enjoys increasing popularity among young people; (3) how the Internet may affect the psychological well-being and social development of young people through different mechanisms. Conceptual and applied implications of these findings will be discussed.