S preferred to concentrate `on the positives and examine online opportunities’ (2009, p. 152), rather than investigating potential dangers. By contrast, the empirical analysis on young people’s use from the web inside the social operate field is sparse, and has focused on how very best to AICAR biological activity mitigate on the internet risks (Fursland, 2010, 2011; May-Chahal et al., 2012). This includes a rationale because the dangers posed by means of new technologies are extra most likely to become evident inside the lives of young individuals getting social perform help. By way of example, proof relating to child Crotaline solubility 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 generally occurs each on the net and offline, plus the process of exploitation is usually initiated by way of on the web make contact with and grooming. The experience of sexual exploitation is really a gendered a single whereby the vast majority of victims are girls and young women as well as the perpetrators male. Young people with expertise of your care system are also notably over-represented in existing information relating to child sexual exploitation (OCC, 2012; CEOP, 2013). Research also suggests that young folks who have skilled prior abuse offline are a lot more susceptible to on the internet grooming (May-Chahal et al., 2012) and there’s considerable experienced anxiousness about unmediated get in touch with in between looked soon after children and adopted youngsters and their birth families through new technology (Fursland, 2010, 2011; Sen, 2010).Not All that’s Strong Melts into Air?Responses call for cautious consideration, nevertheless. The exact relationship between on-line and offline vulnerability nevertheless desires to become far better understood (Livingstone and Palmer, 2012) and the proof does not support an assumption that young people with care practical experience are, per a0022827 se, at greater risk on the web. Even where there is greater concern about a young person’s safety, recognition is needed that their online activities will present a complex mixture of dangers and opportunities over which they may exert their very own judgement and agency. Further understanding of this situation will depend on greater insight in to the online experiences of young people today getting social function support. This paper contributes to the knowledge base by reporting findings from a study exploring the perspectives of six care leavers and four looked following young children regarding frequently discussed dangers connected with digital media and their very own use of such media. The paper focuses on participants’ experiences of applying digital media for social get in touch with.Theorising digital relationsConcerns regarding 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, neighborhood and social bonds arising from globalisation results in human relationships that are much more fragile and superficial (Beck, 1992; Bauman, 2000). For Bauman (2000), life below situations of liquid modernity is characterised by feelings of `precariousness, instability and vulnerability’ (p. 160). Though he’s not a theorist from 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 sites, he comments that `unlike old-fashioned relationships virtual relations appear to be made to the measure of a liquid modern day life setting . . ., “virtual relationships” are easy to e.S preferred to concentrate `on the positives and examine on the net opportunities’ (2009, p. 152), in lieu of 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 best to mitigate on line dangers (Fursland, 2010, 2011; May-Chahal et al., 2012). This includes a rationale because the dangers posed through new technologies are much more most likely to become evident in the lives of young folks receiving social perform help. By way of example, proof regarding kid sexual exploitation in groups and gangs indicate this as an SART.S23503 problem of important concern in which new technologies plays a function (Beckett et al., 2013; Berelowitz et al., 2013; CEOP, 2013). Victimisation often happens each on line and offline, plus the method of exploitation is often initiated via on-line speak to and grooming. The practical experience of sexual exploitation is really a gendered one particular whereby the vast majority of victims are girls and young women along with the perpetrators male. Young individuals with expertise of the care program are also notably over-represented in existing information regarding youngster sexual exploitation (OCC, 2012; CEOP, 2013). Research also suggests that young persons who have experienced prior abuse offline are more susceptible to on-line grooming (May-Chahal et al., 2012) and there’s considerable experienced anxiety about unmediated contact in between looked immediately after youngsters and adopted children and their birth families by means of new technologies (Fursland, 2010, 2011; Sen, 2010).Not All that’s Solid Melts into Air?Responses need cautious consideration, on the other hand. The precise connection involving on the web and offline vulnerability nevertheless requires to be superior understood (Livingstone and Palmer, 2012) along with the proof will not help an assumption that young persons with care experience are, per a0022827 se, at higher risk on-line. Even exactly where there is certainly greater concern about a young person’s security, recognition is necessary that their on line activities will present a complex mixture of dangers and possibilities more than which they’re going to exert their own judgement and agency. Further understanding of this concern depends on greater insight into the on the web experiences of young people today 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 right after children concerning typically 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 get in touch with.Theorising digital relationsConcerns concerning 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 classic 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 below situations of liquid modernity is characterised by feelings of `precariousness, instability and vulnerability’ (p. 160). Even though he is not a theorist of the `digital age’ as such, Bauman’s observations are frequently illustrated with examples from, or clearly applicable to, it. In respect of internet dating websites, he comments that `unlike old-fashioned relationships virtual relations look to become created towards the measure of a liquid modern life setting . . ., “virtual relationships” are uncomplicated to e.