The study has been running since 2003 when participants were aged 8–9. They are now entering adulthood and are attending high school.

The research is designed to examine and understand how children make and keep friends. For the past four years researchers have been collecting, archiving and analysing text messages, instant messages and email communications. This will continue but will be expanded to include coverage for Facebook, Twitter and other social and web channels using Arkovi.

Professor Marion Underwood, the project’s leader, said: “As Facebook has emerged as an important context for social engagement among teens, using Arkovi’s technology will now enable us, for the first time, to capture the actual content of Facebook communication by our participants. Studying Facebook communication could be yet another window into adolescents’ social worlds.”

Pictured is Arkovi co-founder and CEO Blane Warrene.