DIGITAL YOUTH: RE-THINKING IDEALS OF DIGITAL IMPERATIVES AND IMAGINARIES

In this article, we scrutinize the digital imperative of the practices and ideals of digital everyday life of Finnish youth born in 2005-2006 by dismantling the promises of digital youth. Our paper focuses on digital belonging and engagements in young people's everyday lives. We ask what these engagements tell us about the ideals of digital citizenship and agency of young people and how these ideals shape the understandings of the use of digital environments. To achieve these objectives, we draw on both qualitative and quantitative research material to analyze their interpretations of the use of digital technologies and their meanings. Our research reveals that it is important to elaborate on how digitalization is accessed, understood, and used. How youth shape their techno-social and techno-cultural configurations needs to be visible at the societal, structural, and life-course levels.