Abstract
This study explores the motivation and process for high school students to meet new potential friends online, giving specific consideration to gender differences. Free description questionnaire data collected from 1129 students from 6 high schools were analyzed using KH Coder. The results demonstrate that students of both genders met potential new friends with common hobbies. However, while male students meet new potential friends widely through games, female students used Internet service to meet new potential friends from the same school. Previous studies have explored the motivations of female participants. This study re-considers the extent to which these motivations and processes are female-specific. As a practical suggestion, it points up the need to additionally consider Internet interactions as a means to complement existing human relationships or to strengthen ‘extended network’ links into potential friendships.
