There is plenty of grumbling about how social media — texting in particular — may be harming children’s social and intellectual development. But a new study suggests that constant IM’ing and texting among teens may also provide benefits, particularly for those who are introverted.
很多人抱怨社会媒体——尤其是短信，对孩子社交能力和智力发展可能会造成伤害。但是一项新的研究表明，经常性的即时通讯和短信交流也可能有正面效益，尤其是对那些内向的青少年。
Israeli researchers studied instant messages exchanged by 231 teens, aged 14 to 18. All of the participants were “regular” or “extensive” IM’ers. In the U.S., two thirds of teens use instant messaging services regularly, with a full third messaging at least once every day.
以色列研究人员对年龄14-18岁的231位青少年的即时信息进行研究。所有研究对象都是“经常”以及“密集“的即时通讯使用者。在美国，2/3青少年经常性使用即时信息服务，而所有人每天至少发送一则消息。
The researchers analyzed 150 conversations in the study, and reported the results in the journal Computers in Human Behavior. In 100 of these chats, the study participant began IM’ing while in a negative emotional state such as sadness, distress or anger. The rest were conversations begun when the participant was feeling good or neutral. After the chat, participants reported about a 20% reduction in their distress— not enough to completely eliminate it, but enough to leave them feeling better than they had before reaching out.
研究人员分析了150条对话，并在《电脑与人类生活》杂志中发表了研究结果。其中100条对话显示当他们处于消极情绪中如悲伤、痛苦或愤怒时开始信息聊天。其余是当他们心情好或是一般时的聊天。聊天后，大约20%研究对象表明痛苦减退了，虽然不能完全消除，但是感觉比聊天之前好多了。
“Our findings suggest that IM’ing between distressed adolescents and their peers may provide emotional relief and consequently contribute to [their] well-being, ” the authors write, noting that prior research has shown that people assigned to talk to a stranger either in real life or online improved their mood in both settings, but even more with IM. And people who talk with their real-life friends online also report feeling closer to them than those who just communicate face-to-face, implying a strengthening of their bond.
“我们的发现表明青少年与同龄人之间通过即时通讯进行情感交流能安抚悲痛情绪，因此有助于他们提高幸福感”作者写道，注意到先前的研究表明，人们与陌生人之间的交流，无论是在现实生活还是网上交流，都会提高他们的情绪，而即时通讯的效果更高。人们通过网络与现实生活中的朋友沟通也感觉比面对面谈话更亲近，无形中加强了他们的连结。
(MORE: Does the Internet Really Make Everyone Crazy?)
（更多提问：互联网真的会让每个人疯狂吗？）
Why would digital communication trump human contact? The reasons are complex, but may have something to do with the fact that users can control expression of sadness and other emotions via IM without revealing emotional elements like tears that some may perceive as embarrassing or sources of discomfort. Studies also show that the anonymity of writing on a device blankets the users in a sense of safety that may prompt people to feel more comfortable in sharing and discussing their deepest and most authentic feelings. Prior research has shown that expressive writing itself can “vent” emotions and provide a sense of relief— and doing so knowing that your words are reaching a sympathetic friend may provide even more comfort and potentially be therapeutic.
为什么电子通讯胜过人类联系？原因很复杂，但事实证明，用户可以控制好悲伤和其他情绪的表达方式，因为即时通讯可以隐藏诸如眼泪等让人觉得尴尬或不适的情感元素。研究也表明在设备上匿名写作普遍让用户有安全感，让人无所顾忌地讨论他们的最深入、最真实的感觉。之前的研究表明了表达性写作本身可以“宣泄”情绪，让人有解脱的感觉，同时，你的文字如果让富有同情心的朋友看到了，他会给你更多的安慰，可能治愈你的情感创伤。
Researchers also found that introverted participants reported more relief from IM conversations when they were distressed than extraverts did. As Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking, wrote recently for TIME:
研究同样发现，与活泼的研究对象相比，内向的研究对象伤心时使用即时通讯对话更能得到释放。正如《安静》作者Susan Cain所写：“内向的力量在世界中不容忽略”最近她在《时代》杂志上写道：
Introverts are often brimming with thoughts and care deeply for their friends, family and colleagues. But even the most socially skilled introverts (of whom there are many) sometimes long for a free pass from socializing en masse or talking on the phone. This is what the Internet offers: the chance to connect — but in measured doses and from behind a screen…
内向的人通常对他们的朋友、家人和同事都充满想法和关怀。但即使社交能力最强的内
[W]hen you’re blogging or tweeting, you don’t have to wade through small talk before you get to main point. You have time to think before you speak. You can connect, one mind with another, freed from the distractions of social cues and pleasantries — just the way readers and writers have done for centuries.
的。你可以自由地与另一个人的思想连接，而不用为一些社会暗示和幽默分神——就像
(MORE: Why Gadgets Are Great for Introverts)
（更多提问：为什么这些工具对内向者来说很好？）
For teens who are just learning to negotiate a changing social world and establish new relationships, IMing may provide just the outlet they need for sharing feelings and connecting with peers without the embarrassment of exposed emotions. For parents, however, it’s worth remembering that the comfort comes with dangers as well, since online predators are eager to exploit this openness and prey on young texters’ vulnerability. Monitoring the friends and contacts the youngest teens are connecting with online can minimize the threat; as with any service, it’s a matter of balancing the benefits with the risks.
对青少年来说，他们刚开始学习协商一个改变社会的世界，以及建立新的关系，即时通讯刚好可以提供他们所需的宣泄口，让他们可以和同龄人联系，分享感受，即使表达情绪也不觉得尴尬。对父母来说，要记住的是安逸与危险并存。网上掠夺者渴望利用这种开放性来捕捉年轻短信群体的弱点。通过监控青少年的朋友圈以及他们的网上联系人可以减少这种威胁，对于任何服务，怎样平衡效益和风险很重要。
Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2012/08/30/how-texting-and-iming-helps-introverted-teens/#ixzz255AOVFxJ
详细阅读： http://healthland.time.
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