S preferred to focus `on the positives and examine on the web opportunities’ (2009, p. 152), as an alternative to investigating possible dangers. By contrast, the empirical research on young people’s use of the net inside the social perform field is sparse, and has focused on how very best to mitigate on line risks (Fursland, 2010, 2011; May-Chahal et al., 2012). This includes a rationale as the dangers posed by way of new technologies are extra probably to be evident in the lives of young individuals receiving social function support. One example is, evidence relating to child sexual exploitation in groups and gangs indicate this as an SART.S23503 challenge of significant concern in which new technology plays a function (Beckett et al., 2013; Berelowitz et al., 2013; CEOP, 2013). Victimisation frequently happens both on the net and offline, as well as the method of exploitation may be initiated by means of on the internet contact and grooming. The expertise of sexual exploitation is often a gendered 1 whereby the vast majority of victims are girls and young ladies and the perpetrators male. Young people today with encounter with the care system are also notably over-represented in current information concerning child sexual exploitation (OCC, 2012; CEOP, 2013). Research also suggests that young men and women who’ve skilled prior abuse offline are much more susceptible to on the web grooming (May-Chahal et al., 2012) and there’s considerable experienced anxiety about unmediated speak to involving looked just after children and adopted children and their birth families by means of new technologies (Fursland, 2010, 2011; Sen, 2010).Not All that is Solid Melts into Air?Responses require cautious consideration, however. The exact connection between online and offline vulnerability nevertheless wants to become greater understood (Livingstone and Palmer, 2012) as well as the proof doesn’t support an assumption that young folks with care practical experience are, per a0022827 se, at greater risk on the web. Even exactly where there’s greater concern about a young person’s security, recognition is needed that their online ITI214 chemical information activities will present a complicated mixture of risks and possibilities more than which they are going to exert their very own judgement and agency. Additional understanding of this issue is determined by higher insight into the online experiences of young persons 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 right after young children concerning frequently discussed dangers linked with digital media and their very own use of such media. The paper focuses on participants’ experiences of utilizing 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 extra fragile and superficial (Beck, 1992; Bauman, 2000). For Bauman (2000), life under 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 regularly INNO-206 web 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 be created for the measure of a liquid modern day life setting . . ., “virtual relationships” are quick to e.S preferred to concentrate `on the positives and examine on-line opportunities’ (2009, p. 152), as an alternative to investigating prospective dangers. By contrast, the empirical research on young people’s use of your web inside the social work field is sparse, and has focused on how very best to mitigate on-line risks (Fursland, 2010, 2011; May-Chahal et al., 2012). This includes a rationale as the dangers posed via new technology are a lot more probably to become evident within the lives of young folks receiving social work assistance. By way of example, evidence regarding youngster 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 line and offline, plus the process of exploitation is usually initiated through on line get in touch with and grooming. The practical experience of sexual exploitation is actually a gendered 1 whereby the vast majority of victims are girls and young women plus the perpetrators male. Young individuals with experience of your care system are also notably over-represented in present data regarding youngster sexual exploitation (OCC, 2012; CEOP, 2013). Investigation also suggests that young individuals who’ve knowledgeable prior abuse offline are much more susceptible to on the web grooming (May-Chahal et al., 2012) and there is considerable qualified anxiety about unmediated get in touch with between looked after young children and adopted children and their birth families through new technology (Fursland, 2010, 2011; Sen, 2010).Not All that is certainly Strong Melts into Air?Responses demand cautious consideration, however. The exact partnership among on the net and offline vulnerability still requires to be superior understood (Livingstone and Palmer, 2012) and also the evidence will not help an assumption that young persons with care encounter are, per a0022827 se, at greater risk on-line. Even where there is higher concern about a young person’s safety, recognition is required that their on-line activities will present a complicated mixture of risks and opportunities over which they will exert their very own judgement and agency. Further understanding of this challenge is determined by greater insight into the on the web experiences of young folks receiving social function help. This paper contributes towards the understanding base by reporting findings from a study exploring the perspectives of six care leavers and four looked just after kids with regards to commonly discussed risks linked with digital media and their own use of such media. The paper focuses on participants’ experiences of using digital media for social contact.Theorising digital relationsConcerns regarding the influence 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 results in human relationships that are a lot 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). Though 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 world-wide-web dating web pages, 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 straightforward to e.