Ettects of Chatting on the Internet in Adolescences in Nakhon Munipality

Abstract

       This research aimed to study the causes and impacts of Internet chatting on late adolescents. The subjects were adolescents aged between 18-25 years who used the services of six Internet shops on Phang Muang 3 Road, Tambon Sateng, Muang Yala District. The quantitative data were collected from 100 subjects using a questionnaire and the quality data were collected via the interview and participatory observation on 7 subjects. The results revealed that most subjects (33%) were 18-21 years old, residing in Yala Province (40%). Most (66%) were Muslims in school age (77%). The reasons why the subjects developed Internet chatting behavior were the desire for friends (76%), followed by loneliness, boredom and stress (51%). As for the impacts of the Internet chatting, it was found that mostly there were impacts both on themselves and social conditions sometimes. The impacts on themselves were improper use of time (66%), followed by being expressive (48%), feeling bored when not chatting (45%) and the expenses to spend (43%). The impacts on social relationship were those on family relationship the most (57%), followed by real life socialization (56%), language used in real life (56%), communication in real life (56%), associating with friends in real life (52%) and safety (52%). These impacts would not have occurred if the adolescents had not spend so much time on the Internet society that the comparison between the Internet society and the real one occurred and if they had not made use of the advantage of Internet chatting in the wrong way.