S preferred to focus `on the positives and examine on the net opportunities’ (2009, p. 152), instead of investigating possible dangers. By contrast, the empirical study on young people’s use with the world wide web inside the social work field is sparse, and has focused on how finest to mitigate on the net dangers (Fursland, 2010, 2011; May-Chahal et al., 2012). This has a rationale because the dangers posed by way of new technologies are much more most likely to be evident within the lives of young men and women getting social function support. As an example, proof relating to child sexual exploitation in groups and gangs indicate this as an SART.S23503 concern of important concern in which new technology plays a function (Beckett et al., 2013; Berelowitz et al., 2013; CEOP, 2013). Victimisation usually occurs each online and offline, and the process of exploitation can be initiated by way of on the net speak to and grooming. The expertise of sexual exploitation is often a gendered a single whereby the vast majority of victims are girls and young girls and the perpetrators male. Young people with practical experience in the care program are also notably over-represented in present data with regards to youngster sexual exploitation (OCC, 2012; CEOP, 2013). Study also suggests that young people today that have skilled prior abuse offline are a lot more susceptible to on line grooming (May-Chahal et al., 2012) and there is considerable experienced get Monocrotaline anxiousness about unmediated contact among looked soon after children and adopted youngsters and their birth families by means of new technologies (Fursland, 2010, 2011; Sen, 2010).Not All which is Strong Melts into Air?Responses require cautious consideration, nevertheless. The exact connection between on the web and offline vulnerability nonetheless wants to become improved understood (Livingstone and Palmer, 2012) and also the proof doesn’t assistance an assumption that young people with care practical experience are, per a0022827 se, at greater danger online. Even exactly where there’s higher concern about a young person’s security, recognition is needed that their on the internet activities will present a complex mixture of risks and order PNPP opportunities more than which they will exert their own judgement and agency. Additional understanding of this challenge will depend on greater insight into the on the internet experiences of young individuals getting social work help. This paper contributes towards the understanding base by reporting findings from a study exploring the perspectives of six care leavers and four looked immediately after children concerning frequently discussed dangers associated with digital media and their own use of such media. The paper focuses on participants’ experiences of applying digital media for social speak to.Theorising digital relationsConcerns concerning 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 conventional civic, neighborhood and social bonds arising from globalisation leads to human relationships that are much more fragile and superficial (Beck, 1992; Bauman, 2000). For Bauman (2000), life beneath conditions of liquid modernity is characterised by feelings of `precariousness, instability and vulnerability’ (p. 160). Although he is not a theorist on the `digital age’ as such, Bauman’s observations are frequently 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 appear to become created for the measure of a liquid modern life setting . . ., “virtual relationships” are effortless to e.S preferred to concentrate `on the positives and examine on line opportunities’ (2009, p. 152), rather than investigating prospective risks. By contrast, the empirical analysis on young people’s use of the net inside the social perform field is sparse, and has focused on how greatest to mitigate on the internet dangers (Fursland, 2010, 2011; May-Chahal et al., 2012). This features a rationale as the dangers posed by means of new technologies are more likely to be evident within the lives of young men and women getting social work support. By way of example, evidence with regards to child sexual exploitation in groups and gangs indicate this as an SART.S23503 situation of important concern in which new technology plays a function (Beckett et al., 2013; Berelowitz et al., 2013; CEOP, 2013). Victimisation frequently happens each on the net and offline, along with the course of action of exploitation might be initiated via on the web contact and grooming. The knowledge of sexual exploitation is actually a gendered a single whereby the vast majority of victims are girls and young females along with the perpetrators male. Young men and women with experience on the care method are also notably over-represented in existing information relating to child sexual exploitation (OCC, 2012; CEOP, 2013). Investigation also suggests that young persons that have experienced prior abuse offline are additional susceptible to on the net grooming (May-Chahal et al., 2012) and there’s considerable expert anxiousness about unmediated contact among looked immediately after kids and adopted youngsters and their birth families through new technology (Fursland, 2010, 2011; Sen, 2010).Not All that is definitely Strong Melts into Air?Responses demand careful consideration, having said that. The exact connection in between on the internet and offline vulnerability still demands to become improved understood (Livingstone and Palmer, 2012) and also the evidence doesn’t help an assumption that young men and women with care experience are, per a0022827 se, at greater threat on-line. Even exactly where there’s greater concern about a young person’s security, recognition is needed that their online activities will present a complex mixture of risks and possibilities more than which they may exert their own judgement and agency. Additional understanding of this situation will depend on greater insight into the on line experiences of young folks getting social perform support. This paper contributes for the know-how base by reporting findings from a study exploring the perspectives of six care leavers and four looked just after young children concerning typically 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 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 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 conditions of liquid modernity is characterised by feelings of `precariousness, instability and vulnerability’ (p. 160). Though he is not a theorist from the `digital age’ as such, Bauman’s observations are regularly illustrated with examples from, or clearly applicable to, it. In respect of internet dating internet sites, he comments that `unlike old-fashioned relationships virtual relations appear to be produced for the measure of a liquid modern life setting . . ., “virtual relationships” are effortless to e.