New Books in Sociology Ysabel Gerrard, "The Kids Are Online: Confronting the Myths and Realities of Young Digital Life" (U California Press, 2025)
Apr 15, 2025
Ysabel Gerrard, a Senior Lecturer in Digital Media and Society at the University of Sheffield, discusses the nuanced digital lives of young people. She challenges common myths and reveals the complexities of online interactions, emphasizing both their potential and pitfalls. The conversation delves into issues like anonymity, body image, and the role of social media in youth mental health. It also highlights innovative research methods that capture how teenagers navigate these digital spaces, offering fresh insights into their experiences.
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Paradoxes of Youth Social Media
- Social media for young people is full of paradoxes where platforms bring both risks and rewards.
- Young users experience moments where harms unlock valuable, pleasurable interactions, defying simple good/bad labels.
Algorithmic Traps in Mental Health
- Social media algorithms trap users in feedback loops by continuously showing related content.
- This can both support mental health expression and also expose users to harmful, triggering material.
Ethical, Trust-Based Research
- Ysabel Gerrard used interviews and workshops with young people, including paired interviews, to collect data.
- She built trust through shared social media usage and took ethical considerations very seriously throughout.