Abstract
This communication presents findings from a study on the effects of digital social networks (DSN) on the construction of subjectivity among 12 young people (18–24 years old) living in residential care centers partnered with child and youth protection agencies in the Barcelona region. The research analyzes their narratives around DSN use to better understand identity-building processes during their transition to autonomy. Using an onlife ethnography approach (Floridi, 2015), the study combined interviews and focus groups with virtual ethnography, enabling the observation and analysis of visual and auditory narratives shared online. Findings reveal that residential living often entails deprivation, imbalance, and loneliness, but also a conscious and strategic use of DSN as tools for identity construction. Drawing on the new sociology of the individual (Martuccelli, 2013), the analysis identifies a “dynamic self” built from lived experiences, performative acts, and a desire for coherence, either in relation to one’s digital profile or to communities of care. This individual pursuit intersects with collective dynamics that are both supportive and risky: while follower communities may heighten “media vulnerability,” belonging to supportive groups fosters “media consistency,” strengthening identity and a sense of belonging. Overall, DSN emerge as a space for identity exploration that blends experimentation with the desire for self-coherence. They also hold potential as educational resources to support young people in their pathways toward autonomy.
Presenters
Thomas ProlaResearch Manager, Social Science, European University of the Atlantic, Cantabria, Spain
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Youth narratives, Social networks, Social Vulnerability, Identity, Autonomy
