Abstract
The motivations for online communications can be unique in their nuances. For instance, many people pass time online to idle away hours, satisfy vital needs, show social presence, or be helpful to others. The author of the research analyzes digital media interactions of her two sons in the U.S., the country that represented a new cultural space for these boys. The goal of this study is to examine the role of media and communication technologies in the process of building effective relationships between Kazakhstani children and their peers in the U.S. The study aimed to solve the following theoretical and practical tasks: a) using the framework of Grounded Theory, develop an exploratory understanding of why Kazakhstani kids communicated with their peers in virtual space rather than in the physical realm; b) identify and showcase the role of media and communication technologies for Kazakhstani boys in building relationships with American peers via an analysis of their online interactions in digital Using observation and in-depth interviews, the author studied how online space helps children from Kazakhstan open the door to offline communication. This auto-ethnographic research investigation contributes to the Uses and Gratifications Theory by enriching the scholarly conversation with interdisciplinary arguments in the context of the role of media and technology in intercultural communication. The study revealed that American children were more likely to be online after school. Therefore, the often-common way for Kazakhstani children to get the “access keys” to “exciting dynamic communication” with school friends in a new cultural setting was primarily possible only through the Internet. The results of this study offer a fresh understanding of chil- dren’s online interactions and the role of digital media and communication technologies in the success- ful integration of children into a new environment. These unique findings represent the practical value of the study.