emale teenagers' susceptibility to the Internet are then presented in order to further explore the complexity of the relationship between female teenagers' use of the Internet and their self-image.
Due to their distinctive developmental needs, teenagers are particularly attracted to the world of the Internet because it offers an ideal environment for them to explore their identities, forge new relationships with individuals from a wide range of communities and initiate their separation from their parents (Suler, Adolescents in Cyberspace "What Makes Adolescents Tick"; Tapscott; Buhrmester 158-9). Nonetheless, their active participation in the Internet world can have a positive and/or a negative impact on their self-image.
On the positive side, the anonymity of the Internet provides teenagers with a safe forum for exploring and experimenting with the different aspects of their emerging identity. In the online environment, they are not self-conscious about expressing their true self (Lenhart, Rainie and Lewis 17). Furthermore, teenagers are able to exercise total control over the definition of their selfhood by presenting themselves differently, controlling the amount and type of information about themselves and exploring new aspects of themselves (Suler, Identity Management in Cyberspace "Level of Dissociation and Integration"). At the same time, through these safe interactions with others in the cyberworld, teenagers are able to obtain invaluable feedback, encouragement or even criticisms, which can help them in their process of defining their self-image (Ritter).
In addition, the Internet helps teenagers to develop a positive self-image for offering them a wide range of opportunities and choices for forging relationships with other social groups. While teenagers are limited in their options of available social groups in schools, they are able to participate in various types of groups online, which are based on ages, ...