Digital Socialisation: Continuity and Novelty in Young People's Mediated Lives

Socialisation, the process of learning and internalising societal norms and
values, is increasingly occurring within digital environments. Traditional
sociological frameworks often fall short in capturing the complexities of
these digitally mediated processes, arguably because existing theoretical
tools have not been consistently updated, nor have new ones been widely
established, thus not addressing these evolving realities. This paper
proposes and explores the concept of 'digital socialisation', arguing that it
both extends familiar socialisation mechanisms into new spaces and
introduces novel dynamics. Drawing on qualitative interviews with young
people (aged 12-29) in the unique context of Luxembourg, this study
examines how youth actively navigate, shape, and contest digital spaces.
Findings reveal a process that moves beyond a simple offline-online
duality: While established relationships persist online, they are
reconfigured by novel forms of interaction, identity performance, and
community building facilitated by platforms, gaming, and generative AI.
This research provides a nuanced understanding of contemporary youth
socialisation by conceptualising it as a transformative interplay, where
continuities and novelties mutually constitute one another, underscoring
the need for updated theoretical and pedagogical approaches.