Digital youth culture faces mounting pressures in today's connected world. Social media platforms have become deeply embedded in young people's daily lives, creating constant awareness of peers' online status, read receipts, location shares, and social metrics. But what impact does this hyper-connectivity have on their wellbeing and relationships?
In this thought-provoking lecture, researcher Malene Charlotte Larsen examines how social media platforms function and influence young people through specific design features. Drawing on current research, including the SoMeWell project, she reveals how certain design choices may actually undermine wellbeing and community rather than support them.
Larsen offers a nuanced perspective on what it means to be young today, where digital platforms are woven into the fabric of everyday social interaction. The lecture explores critical questions: What does genuine digital wellbeing require? How can we genuinely listen to young people's own experiences and concerns? And how can we strengthen young people's understanding of technology at a time when tech companies compete fiercely for our time, attention, and social connections?
About the speaker: Malene Charlotte Larsen holds a Ph.D. and is a lecturer in social media studies. Since the mid-2000s, she has conducted extensive research into digital youth culture and young people's use of social platforms.
Location: Trekanten - bibliotek & kulturhus
