Understanding the Relationship between the use of Online Social Networking Sites, Social Relationships, and Socio-Cognitive abilities among adolescents.

Growing evidence suggest that social networking sites have been rapidly adopted by the adolescents as a way of staying connected with friends in the contemporary western culture however, the underpinnings specific to the theory of mind in adolescence and online social relationships are evolving. Previous studies reported the influence of social networking sites (SNSs) in theory of mind (ToM) however, not all social platforms have been investigated in relation to the theory of mind and specific to the target population that is, adolescents in this study. In light of the predominant use of online SNSs among adolescents, our study attempts to establish the links between social relationships and ToM among adolescents using SNS like Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, and WhatsApp. The present study also investigated if SNS behaviors and motives for SNS usage determine the frequency of the SNS usage. In the present study, SNS behaviors included self-presentation behaviors and peer interaction behaviors while four motives such as: to meet new people, to connect with friends, for self-development, for entertainment determine the frequency of the SNS usage. We aimed to examine online close social ties among the adolescents with their best friend based on five dimensions: companionship, conflict, intimate disclosure, and satisfaction and how it affects ToM. Key finding of this study include a significant and positive relationship between ToM and the frequency of SNSs usage, however, attributions of this positive relationship to SNS behaviors and motives for SNS usage are to be explored in the future research. The results also suggest that there is no significant relationship between the quality of relationship the participants share with their best friend and its role in ToM. The present study offers directions on future research in the area of intimate self-disclosure in close ties among the adolescents and its relationship with the theory of mind. Key words: Social networking sites, theory of mind, adolescents, friendship, SNS behaviors, SNS usage.