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Adolescence, Identity, and the Politics of Recognition in the Social Media Era explores the political identity formation of adolescents online, with a focus on recognition theory, affect, and lived experiences of belonging and non-belonging.
In a socio-political moment characterised by culture wars and epistemic disjunctures, largely facilitated by the algorithmic logics of modern social media technologies, people are increasingly turning their attention to the role of social media in political belief formation, rising populism, and polarisation. Understanding how these dynamics inform the developing political identities of young people coming of age online is, however, under-explored. In response, this book examines how the desire for recognition and belonging drives identity articulation and political affiliation-both online and offline-for teens negotiating identity construction in the digital era. Using interviews and surveys with New Zealand teens, and employing recognition theory, the book discusses findings which demonstrate how the political identities of adolescents are informed by their relationships with others, and mediated by the algorithmic logics of social media platforms. The main themes in the book explore how social media adoption has become a rite of passage for young people in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world, facilitating new sites and pathways for recognition. Additionally, insofar as these sites are governed by algorithmic technologies, they demonstrate capacities to both facilitate and inhibit capacities for autonomy, connection, and meaningful recognition of both self and others.
Adolescence, Identity, and the Politics of Recognition in the Social Media Era will be of great interest to students and scholars of Politics and Communication Studies, as well as Social Anthropology, Sociology, Youth Studies, and Education.
Sommario
IntroductionRecognition, adolescence, and (political) identity in the algorithmic era
The affective politics of digital media
Adolescent identity development online
Outline of book
Chapter 1: Recognition theory, social media, and the dialectical moment
Recognition and identity
Honneth's framework
Phenomenologies of misrecognition
Identity politics
The dialectical moment
Culture wars as struggle
From polarisation to epistemic disjuncture
A fourth order of recognition: Epistemic
The normative potential of (an amended) recognition theory
Conclusion
Chapter 2: The hybrid lives of teens online
Tensions, transitions, and identity work
Digital affordances for belonging
Affective; collective; political
Toxic discursive environments
An algorithmically-distorted recognition order
Conclusion
Chapter 3: Researching recognition
Methodological framework
Perspectivism and representation
Storytelling/storylistening
Meaning-making, interpretation, and hermeneutics
Reflexivity and researcher positionality
Research methods
Phase one: Surveys
Phase two: In-depth interviews
Analysis
Conclusion
Chapter 4: Affective orientations to the political
Social media as recognition machine
Social media adoption as a rite of passage
Fitting in
Performing belonging and signalling desirable traits
Performing the self as self-discovery
Affirming versus compensatory online practices
Mitigating loneliness
Identifying with a collective
Recognising the self in others
Constructions of us and them; ingroup norms and values
To be recognised is to be understood
Cancel culutre, self-silencing, and the fear of rejection
Conclusion
Chapter 5: Digitally mediated identities
Autonomy-enhancing or autonomy-inhibiting?
Information seeking, interests, hobbies
Enabling and inhibiting connection
Agency and intentionality
Addiction, wasted time, mindless scrolling
An emotional (sc)rollercoaster
Depression, anxiety, apathy
A question of consent: Unwanted exposure to distressing content
Environmental influences
Filter effects and epistemic autonomy
Symmetrical versus asymmetrical hermeneutic environments
The power of dialogue
Conclusion
Conclusion: Autonomy, ambiguity, and justice in the algorithmic age
Ambiguities in the liminal
Political orientations
Technologies of power
The normative and transformative potential of recognition theory
Info autore
Rachel Anna Billington (Ng¿i Tai ki T¿maki) is a lecturer in the Media, Film and Communication Programme at the University of Otago, ¿t¿kou Whakaihu Waka. She lives in ¿tepoti Dunedin with her husband, stepkid/s, chickens, and cat, and likes to use an em dash-despite its reputation.
