S preferred to focus `on the positives and examine on line opportunities’ (2009, p. 152), in lieu of investigating possible dangers. By contrast, the empirical research on young people’s use from the web inside the social work field is sparse, and has focused on how ideal to mitigate on the web risks (MLN1117 cost Fursland, 2010, 2011; May-Chahal et al., 2012). This has a rationale because the dangers posed via new technology are more most likely to become evident within the lives of young people today receiving social work assistance. For example, evidence Cyclosporin A chemical information regarding kid sexual exploitation in groups and gangs indicate this as an SART.S23503 concern of substantial concern in which new technologies plays a part (Beckett et al., 2013; Berelowitz et al., 2013; CEOP, 2013). Victimisation frequently occurs both on the web and offline, and the course of action of exploitation might be initiated by means of on-line get in touch with and grooming. The knowledge of sexual exploitation is often a gendered a single whereby the vast majority of victims are girls and young women and the perpetrators male. Young people with experience from the care technique are also notably over-represented in current data relating to child sexual exploitation (OCC, 2012; CEOP, 2013). Research also suggests that young individuals who have experienced prior abuse offline are more susceptible to on the web grooming (May-Chahal et al., 2012) and there is considerable specialist anxiousness about unmediated get in touch with between looked right after kids and adopted children and their birth families through new technology (Fursland, 2010, 2011; Sen, 2010).Not All that’s Strong Melts into Air?Responses call for careful consideration, even so. The precise partnership involving on the internet and offline vulnerability nevertheless requirements to be much better understood (Livingstone and Palmer, 2012) and the evidence doesn’t assistance an assumption that young persons with care expertise are, per a0022827 se, at higher threat on the net. Even exactly where there is greater concern about a young person’s security, recognition is necessary that their on line activities will present a complex mixture of risks and possibilities more than which they are going to exert their very own judgement and agency. Additional understanding of this issue will depend on higher insight into the on the internet experiences of young folks getting social work support. This paper contributes to the know-how base by reporting findings from a study exploring the perspectives of six care leavers and four looked after kids concerning typically discussed risks 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 regarding 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 standard civic, community and social bonds arising from globalisation results in human relationships that are far 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). While he’s not a theorist of your `digital age’ as such, Bauman’s observations are frequently 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 appear to be made for the measure of a liquid contemporary life setting . . ., “virtual relationships” are straightforward to e.S preferred to concentrate `on the positives and examine on the net opportunities’ (2009, p. 152), rather than investigating possible dangers. By contrast, the empirical investigation on young people’s use from 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 has a rationale because the dangers posed by way of new technologies are far more most likely to be evident within the lives of young persons getting social work help. As an example, proof concerning child sexual exploitation in groups and gangs indicate this as an SART.S23503 issue of substantial concern in which new technologies plays a part (Beckett et al., 2013; Berelowitz et al., 2013; CEOP, 2013). Victimisation usually occurs both on the net and offline, along with the process of exploitation may be initiated by way of on-line get in touch with 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 the perpetrators male. Young people with experience on the care program are also notably over-represented in existing data relating to youngster sexual exploitation (OCC, 2012; CEOP, 2013). Research also suggests that young people who have seasoned prior abuse offline are a lot more susceptible to on the net grooming (May-Chahal et al., 2012) and there’s considerable expert anxiousness about unmediated speak to in between looked just after children and adopted kids and their birth families by means of new technology (Fursland, 2010, 2011; Sen, 2010).Not All that is certainly Strong Melts into Air?Responses require careful consideration, even so. The exact partnership between on the web and offline vulnerability nevertheless wants to become better understood (Livingstone and Palmer, 2012) and the evidence does not assistance an assumption that young people with care encounter are, per a0022827 se, at greater danger on the web. Even exactly where there is greater concern about a young person’s safety, recognition is required that their online activities will present a complicated mixture of dangers and possibilities over which they’ll exert their very own judgement and agency. Additional understanding of this situation depends upon greater insight into the online experiences of young individuals getting social work support. This paper contributes towards the knowledge base by reporting findings from a study exploring the perspectives of six care leavers and four looked following children regarding commonly discussed dangers associated with digital media and their very own use of such media. The paper focuses on participants’ experiences of employing digital media for social get in touch with.Theorising digital relationsConcerns about 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 traditional civic, community and social bonds arising from globalisation results in human relationships which are much 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’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 online dating web sites, he comments that `unlike old-fashioned relationships virtual relations look to be produced to the measure of a liquid modern life setting . . ., “virtual relationships” are easy to e.