S preferred to concentrate `on the positives and examine on line opportunities’ (2009, p. 152), rather than investigating possible risks. By contrast, the empirical investigation on young people’s use of your net inside the social work field is sparse, and has focused on how very best to mitigate online dangers (Fursland, 2010, 2011; May-Chahal et al., 2012). This features a rationale because the dangers posed through new technologies are a lot more most likely to become evident inside the lives of young folks receiving social operate assistance. By way of example, evidence with regards to kid sexual exploitation in groups and gangs indicate this as an SART.S23503 issue of significant concern in which new technologies plays a function (Beckett et al., 2013; Berelowitz et al., 2013; CEOP, 2013). Victimisation normally happens each on the net and offline, plus the approach of exploitation might be initiated via on the internet speak to and grooming. The experience of sexual exploitation is actually a gendered one particular whereby the vast majority of victims are girls and young ladies plus the perpetrators male. Young individuals with knowledge of your care program are also notably over-represented in present information with regards to youngster sexual exploitation (OCC, 2012; CEOP, 2013). Research also suggests that young people today who have experienced prior abuse offline are more susceptible to on the internet grooming (May-Chahal et al., 2012) and there is certainly considerable qualified anxiety about unmediated contact in between looked immediately after kids and adopted GGTI298 chemical information children and their birth families by means of new technology (Fursland, 2010, 2011; Sen, 2010).Not All which is Strong Melts into Air?Responses need cautious consideration, having said that. The precise connection involving on the net and offline vulnerability nonetheless desires to be superior understood (Livingstone and Palmer, 2012) as well as the proof will not help an assumption that young persons with care encounter are, per a0022827 se, at higher danger online. Even where there is certainly greater concern about a young person’s safety, recognition is necessary that their online activities will present a complex mixture of dangers and possibilities more than which they are going to exert their very own judgement and agency. Further understanding of this situation will depend on higher insight in to the on the web RR6 structure experiences of young persons receiving social operate help. This paper contributes for the knowledge base by reporting findings from a study exploring the perspectives of six care leavers and four looked soon after 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 get in touch with.Theorising digital relationsConcerns concerning 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 classic 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 beneath circumstances of liquid modernity is characterised by feelings of `precariousness, instability and vulnerability’ (p. 160). Although he is not a theorist from the `digital age’ as such, Bauman’s observations are frequently illustrated with examples from, or clearly applicable to, it. In respect of web dating websites, he comments that `unlike old-fashioned relationships virtual relations seem to become made towards the measure of a liquid modern day life setting . . ., “virtual relationships” are uncomplicated to e.S preferred to concentrate `on the positives and examine on the net opportunities’ (2009, p. 152), rather than investigating potential dangers. By contrast, the empirical analysis on young people’s use from the online inside the social operate field is sparse, and has focused on how finest to mitigate on the internet dangers (Fursland, 2010, 2011; May-Chahal et al., 2012). This features a rationale because the dangers posed through new technology are much more likely to become evident in the lives of young people receiving social perform assistance. As an example, proof regarding child sexual exploitation in groups and gangs indicate this as an SART.S23503 situation of substantial concern in which new technology plays a part (Beckett et al., 2013; Berelowitz et al., 2013; CEOP, 2013). Victimisation usually occurs each on the net and offline, and also the approach of exploitation can be initiated through on the web speak to and grooming. The experience of sexual exploitation can be a gendered one particular whereby the vast majority of victims are girls and young females and the perpetrators male. Young folks with practical experience in the care program are also notably over-represented in present information concerning youngster sexual exploitation (OCC, 2012; CEOP, 2013). Analysis also suggests that young persons that have seasoned prior abuse offline are more susceptible to on the internet grooming (May-Chahal et al., 2012) and there is certainly considerable qualified anxiousness about unmediated contact among looked right after young children and adopted young children and their birth households through new technology (Fursland, 2010, 2011; Sen, 2010).Not All that’s Solid Melts into Air?Responses demand cautious consideration, even so. The precise partnership in between on the web and offline vulnerability nonetheless requires to be far better understood (Livingstone and Palmer, 2012) along with the proof doesn’t assistance an assumption that young people today with care expertise are, per a0022827 se, at greater risk on the net. Even where there is certainly higher concern about a young person’s security, recognition is necessary that their on line activities will present a complicated mixture of dangers and opportunities over which they may exert their own judgement and agency. Further understanding of this challenge depends upon higher insight into the on the web 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 just after children regarding commonly 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 contact.Theorising digital relationsConcerns concerning the effect 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 traditional civic, community and social bonds arising from globalisation results in human relationships which 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). Though he’s not a theorist of your `digital age’ as such, Bauman’s observations are regularly illustrated with examples from, or clearly applicable to, it. In respect of world-wide-web dating web-sites, he comments that `unlike old-fashioned relationships virtual relations appear to become made for the measure of a liquid contemporary life setting . . ., “virtual relationships” are uncomplicated to e.