S preferred to concentrate `on the positives and examine on the net opportunities’ (2009, p. 152), rather than investigating prospective risks. By contrast, the empirical investigation on young people’s use of the net inside the social operate field is sparse, and has focused on how ideal to mitigate on-line risks (Fursland, 2010, 2011; May-Chahal et al., 2012). This features a rationale as the dangers posed by way of new technology are more likely to become evident inside the lives of young people today receiving social function assistance. For instance, proof regarding youngster sexual exploitation in groups and gangs indicate this as an SART.S23503 concern of significant concern in which new technology plays a part (Beckett et al., 2013; Berelowitz et al., 2013; CEOP, 2013). Victimisation frequently occurs each on the net and offline, and the method of exploitation may be initiated by way of on the internet speak to and grooming. The practical experience of sexual exploitation is actually a gendered one whereby the vast majority of victims are girls and young ladies and the perpetrators male. Young individuals with knowledge from the care method are also notably over-represented in current information relating to child sexual exploitation (OCC, 2012; CEOP, 2013). Study also suggests that young people today that have knowledgeable prior abuse offline are extra susceptible to on-line grooming (May-Chahal et al., 2012) and there’s considerable experienced anxiousness about unmediated speak to in between looked following young children and adopted young children and their birth families by means of new technologies (Fursland, 2010, 2011; Sen, 2010).Not All that is Strong Melts into Air?Responses demand cautious consideration, on the other hand. The precise connection in between on the internet and offline vulnerability nonetheless needs to be much better understood (Livingstone and Palmer, 2012) along with the proof will not assistance an assumption that young people with care encounter are, per a0022827 se, at greater threat on the web. Even exactly where there is certainly higher concern about a young person’s security, recognition is necessary that their on the net activities will P88 present a complex mixture of dangers and opportunities over which they’re going to exert their very own judgement and agency. Further understanding of this situation depends on higher insight into the on the internet experiences of young people today getting social perform assistance. This paper contributes for the expertise base by reporting findings from a study exploring the perspectives of six care leavers and four looked immediately after young children regarding commonly discussed risks connected with digital media and their very own use of such media. The paper focuses on participants’ experiences of applying digital media for social contact.Theorising digital relationsConcerns about 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 traditional civic, community and social bonds arising from I-BET151 globalisation results in human relationships that are much 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). When he’s not a theorist with the `digital age’ as such, Bauman’s observations are regularly illustrated with examples from, or clearly applicable to, it. In respect of online dating internet sites, he comments that `unlike old-fashioned relationships virtual relations appear to become made towards the measure of a liquid contemporary life setting . . ., “virtual relationships” are quick to e.S preferred to focus `on the positives and examine on the internet opportunities’ (2009, p. 152), as opposed to investigating possible dangers. By contrast, the empirical investigation on young people’s use of your world wide web within the social perform field is sparse, and has focused on how best to mitigate on the net risks (Fursland, 2010, 2011; May-Chahal et al., 2012). This features a rationale as the dangers posed by way of new technologies are extra most likely to be evident in the lives of young individuals receiving social work help. One example is, proof relating to child 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 often happens both on the net and offline, and also the procedure of exploitation can be initiated via on-line contact and grooming. The encounter of sexual exploitation can be a gendered one whereby the vast majority of victims are girls and young women plus the perpetrators male. Young persons with encounter with the care technique are also notably over-represented in current information regarding youngster sexual exploitation (OCC, 2012; CEOP, 2013). Investigation also suggests that young folks who have experienced prior abuse offline are more susceptible to on the internet grooming (May-Chahal et al., 2012) and there’s considerable qualified anxiety about unmediated make contact with involving looked immediately after young children and adopted children and their birth families through new technologies (Fursland, 2010, 2011; Sen, 2010).Not All that may be Solid Melts into Air?Responses require cautious consideration, having said that. The exact partnership between on line and offline vulnerability nevertheless requirements to be far better understood (Livingstone and Palmer, 2012) as well as the proof does not support an assumption that young individuals with care practical experience are, per a0022827 se, at greater risk on the internet. Even where there’s greater concern about a young person’s security, recognition is needed that their on line activities will present a complicated mixture of risks and opportunities more than which they’ll exert their own judgement and agency. Additional understanding of this challenge depends upon higher insight into the online experiences of young men and women getting social operate assistance. This paper contributes to the information base by reporting findings from a study exploring the perspectives of six care leavers and four looked following young children concerning frequently discussed risks connected with digital media and their very own use of such media. The paper focuses on participants’ experiences of using digital media for social make contact with.Theorising digital relationsConcerns about the effect 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 traditional civic, community and social bonds arising from globalisation results in human relationships which are additional fragile and superficial (Beck, 1992; Bauman, 2000). For Bauman (2000), life beneath circumstances of liquid modernity is characterised by feelings of `precariousness, instability and vulnerability’ (p. 160). Although he’s not a theorist of your `digital age’ as such, Bauman’s observations are often illustrated with examples from, or clearly applicable to, it. In respect of world-wide-web dating sites, he comments that `unlike old-fashioned relationships virtual relations seem to be produced for the measure of a liquid modern day life setting . . ., “virtual relationships” are uncomplicated to e.