S preferred to focus `on the positives and examine on the web opportunities’ (2009, p. 152), as opposed to investigating potential risks. By contrast, the empirical investigation on young people’s use of the net within the social work field is sparse, and has focused on how finest to mitigate on line risks (Fursland, 2010, 2011; May-Chahal et al., 2012). This includes a rationale as the dangers posed by means of new technologies are additional most likely to become evident within the lives of young people today getting social work help. For instance, proof relating to child sexual exploitation in groups and gangs indicate this as an SART.S23503 challenge of important concern in which new technology plays a part (Beckett et al., 2013; Berelowitz et al., 2013; CEOP, 2013). Victimisation normally occurs both on the net and offline, and the course of action of exploitation might be Iguratimod initiated through on the web get in touch with and grooming. The experience of sexual exploitation can be a gendered one whereby the vast majority of victims are girls and young females plus the perpetrators male. Young individuals with practical experience of the care technique are also notably over-represented in current data relating to child sexual exploitation (OCC, 2012; CEOP, 2013). Analysis also suggests that young folks who have knowledgeable prior abuse offline are extra susceptible to online grooming (May-Chahal et al., 2012) and there’s considerable expert HA15 web anxiousness about unmediated speak to involving looked right after kids and adopted children and their birth families through new technologies (Fursland, 2010, 2011; Sen, 2010).Not All that is certainly Solid Melts into Air?Responses need careful consideration, nevertheless. The exact connection involving online and offline vulnerability nevertheless requires to become much better understood (Livingstone and Palmer, 2012) and also the evidence does not help an assumption that young people today with care practical experience are, per a0022827 se, at higher risk on-line. Even exactly where there is greater concern about a young person’s security, recognition is required that their online activities will present a complex mixture of dangers and possibilities over which they are going to exert their very own judgement and agency. Further understanding of this situation depends upon higher insight into the on the web experiences of young people receiving social work assistance. This paper contributes to the expertise base by reporting findings from a study exploring the perspectives of six care leavers and four looked soon after youngsters relating to usually discussed risks related with digital media and their very own use of such media. The paper focuses on participants’ experiences of employing digital media for social speak to.Theorising digital relationsConcerns concerning the impact 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 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 in the `digital age’ as such, Bauman’s observations are often illustrated with examples from, or clearly applicable to, it. In respect of internet dating websites, he comments that `unlike old-fashioned relationships virtual relations appear to become made to the measure of a liquid contemporary life setting . . ., “virtual relationships” are straightforward to e.S preferred to concentrate `on the positives and examine online opportunities’ (2009, p. 152), in lieu of investigating potential risks. By contrast, the empirical analysis on young people’s use of your world-wide-web within the social perform field is sparse, and has focused on how very best to mitigate on the net risks (Fursland, 2010, 2011; May-Chahal et al., 2012). This includes a rationale because the dangers posed via new technology are more probably to become evident inside the lives of young men and women getting social function support. As an example, evidence relating to child sexual exploitation in groups and gangs indicate this as an SART.S23503 concern of considerable concern in which new technologies plays a function (Beckett et al., 2013; Berelowitz et al., 2013; CEOP, 2013). Victimisation often happens both on line and offline, plus the method of exploitation is usually initiated by way of on the web speak to and grooming. The experience of sexual exploitation is often a gendered a single whereby the vast majority of victims are girls and young ladies and also the perpetrators male. Young persons with experience in the care program are also notably over-represented in present information concerning kid sexual exploitation (OCC, 2012; CEOP, 2013). Investigation also suggests that young persons that have knowledgeable prior abuse offline are extra susceptible to on line grooming (May-Chahal et al., 2012) and there is considerable qualified anxiety about unmediated get in touch with in between looked right after youngsters and adopted young children and their birth families by way of new technology (Fursland, 2010, 2011; Sen, 2010).Not All that is certainly Strong Melts into Air?Responses require careful consideration, on the other hand. The exact partnership among on-line and offline vulnerability nevertheless requires to be improved understood (Livingstone and Palmer, 2012) and the proof doesn’t help an assumption that young folks with care knowledge are, per a0022827 se, at higher threat on line. Even where there is certainly greater concern about a young person’s security, recognition is required that their on-line activities will present a complicated mixture of dangers and opportunities more than which they may exert their own judgement and agency. Further understanding of this challenge depends on higher insight in to the online experiences of young men and women receiving social work assistance. This paper contributes to the expertise base by reporting findings from a study exploring the perspectives of six care leavers and 4 looked following young children regarding usually discussed risks associated 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 concerning the impact 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 which are far more fragile and superficial (Beck, 1992; Bauman, 2000). For Bauman (2000), life beneath situations 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 often illustrated with examples from, or clearly applicable to, it. In respect of net dating web-sites, he comments that `unlike old-fashioned relationships virtual relations appear to be made to the measure of a liquid modern life setting . . ., “virtual relationships” are straightforward to e.