S preferred to focus `on the positives and examine on-line opportunities’ (2009, p. 152), in lieu of investigating potential risks. By contrast, the empirical study on young people’s use from the world-wide-web within the social work field is sparse, and has focused on how best to mitigate online dangers (Fursland, 2010, 2011; May-Chahal et al., 2012). This includes a rationale because the dangers posed by way of new technologies are far more probably to be evident in the lives of young people today GDC-0068 web receiving social perform assistance. For instance, proof with regards to kid sexual exploitation in groups and gangs indicate this as an SART.S23503 challenge of important concern in which new technology plays a role (Beckett et al., 2013; Berelowitz et al., 2013; CEOP, 2013). Victimisation normally occurs each on the web and offline, and the procedure of exploitation might be initiated through on the internet contact and grooming. The expertise of sexual exploitation is usually a gendered 1 whereby the vast majority of victims are girls and young girls and the perpetrators male. Young people today with encounter of your care method are also notably over-represented in current data concerning kid sexual exploitation (OCC, 2012; CEOP, 2013). Analysis also suggests that young people today who have skilled prior abuse offline are a lot more susceptible to on the web grooming (May-Chahal et al., 2012) and there is considerable experienced anxiety about unmediated make contact with between looked following youngsters and adopted young children and their birth households via new technology (Fursland, 2010, 2011; Sen, 2010).Not All that is Solid Melts into Air?Responses require cautious consideration, however. The exact partnership involving on line and offline vulnerability still needs to be improved understood (Livingstone and Palmer, 2012) as well as the evidence doesn’t assistance an assumption that young individuals with care experience are, per a0022827 se, at greater risk online. Even where there’s greater concern about a young person’s safety, recognition is necessary that their on line activities will MedChemExpress G007-LK present a complex mixture of dangers and possibilities over which they’re going to exert their own judgement and agency. Additional understanding of this issue is determined by greater insight into the online experiences of young folks receiving social operate assistance. This paper contributes towards the expertise base by reporting findings from a study exploring the perspectives of six care leavers and 4 looked just after children concerning frequently discussed dangers linked with digital media and their own use of such media. The paper focuses on participants’ experiences of applying digital media for social make contact with.Theorising digital relationsConcerns in regards to the influence of digital technologies on young people’s social relationships resonate with pessimistic theories of individualisation in late modernity. It has been argued that the dissolution of regular civic, community and social bonds arising from globalisation results in human relationships that are a lot more fragile and superficial (Beck, 1992; Bauman, 2000). For Bauman (2000), life below circumstances of liquid modernity is characterised by feelings of `precariousness, instability and vulnerability’ (p. 160). Although he is not a theorist of the `digital age’ as such, Bauman’s observations are frequently illustrated with examples from, or clearly applicable to, it. In respect of online dating websites, he comments that `unlike old-fashioned relationships virtual relations seem to be produced towards the measure of a liquid modern life setting . . ., “virtual relationships” are uncomplicated to e.S preferred to focus `on the positives and examine on-line opportunities’ (2009, p. 152), as opposed to investigating prospective risks. By contrast, the empirical research on young people’s use in the web inside the social work field is sparse, and has focused on how ideal to mitigate on line risks (Fursland, 2010, 2011; May-Chahal et al., 2012). This has a rationale because the dangers posed through new technologies are additional probably to become evident within the lives of young folks getting social work assistance. For instance, proof relating to youngster sexual exploitation in groups and gangs indicate this as an SART.S23503 situation of significant concern in which new technology plays a role (Beckett et al., 2013; Berelowitz et al., 2013; CEOP, 2013). Victimisation normally happens each online and offline, as well as the approach of exploitation is usually initiated through on the web speak to and grooming. The expertise of sexual exploitation is really a gendered one particular whereby the vast majority of victims are girls and young women and also the perpetrators male. Young persons with expertise with the care method are also notably over-represented in present data relating to youngster sexual exploitation (OCC, 2012; CEOP, 2013). Analysis also suggests that young people that have skilled prior abuse offline are additional susceptible to on-line grooming (May-Chahal et al., 2012) and there is considerable professional anxiety about unmediated make contact with involving looked following children and adopted children and their birth households through new technology (Fursland, 2010, 2011; Sen, 2010).Not All that’s Strong Melts into Air?Responses require careful consideration, nonetheless. The exact connection between online and offline vulnerability still needs to become superior understood (Livingstone and Palmer, 2012) plus the evidence will not assistance an assumption that young people today with care experience are, per a0022827 se, at greater threat on the internet. Even exactly where there’s greater concern about a young person’s security, recognition is necessary that their on the internet activities will present a complicated mixture of dangers and opportunities over which they may exert their own judgement and agency. Additional understanding of this situation depends on greater insight in to the online experiences of young folks receiving social perform help. This paper contributes towards the know-how base by reporting findings from a study exploring the perspectives of six care leavers and four looked just after kids with regards to typically discussed risks related with digital media and their own use of such media. The paper focuses on participants’ experiences of making use of digital media for social make contact with.Theorising digital relationsConcerns in regards to the impact of digital technology on young people’s social relationships resonate with pessimistic theories of individualisation in late modernity. It has been argued that the dissolution of conventional civic, neighborhood and social bonds arising from globalisation leads to human relationships that are a lot more fragile and superficial (Beck, 1992; Bauman, 2000). For Bauman (2000), life below conditions of liquid modernity is characterised by feelings of `precariousness, instability and vulnerability’ (p. 160). Whilst he’s not a theorist with the `digital age’ as such, Bauman’s observations are often illustrated with examples from, or clearly applicable to, it. In respect of web dating sites, he comments that `unlike old-fashioned relationships virtual relations seem to be made for the measure of a liquid modern life setting . . ., “virtual relationships” are easy to e.