Book Review: L. Pangrazio, Young People’s Literacies in the Digital Age: Continuities, Conflicts and Contradictions

Abstract

What do young people really do with digital media? Young People's Literacies in the Digital Age aims to debunk the common myths and assumptions that are associated with young people's relationship with digital media. In contrast to widespread notions of the empowered and enabled 'digital native', the book presents a more complex picture of young people's digital lives. Focusing on the notion of 'critical digital literacies' this book tackles a number of pressing questions that are often ignored in media hype and political panics over young people's digital media use, including: In what ways can digital media enhance, shape or constrain identity representation and communication? How do digital experiences map onto young people's everyday lives? What are young people's critical understandings of digital media and how did they develop these? What are the dominant understandings young people have of digital media and in whose interests do they work? These questions are addressed through the findings of a year of fieldwork with groups of young people aged 14 to 19 years. Over the course of eight chapters, the experiences and views of these young people are explored with reference to various academic literatures, such as digital literacies, media and communication studies, critical theory and youth studies. Starting with their early socialisation into the digital context, the book traces the continuities, contradictions and conflicts they encounter as part of their practices. Written in a detailed but accessible manner, this book develops a unique perspective on young people's digital lives.|520 What do young people really do with digital media? Young People's Literacies in the Digital Age aims to debunk the common myths and assumptions that are associated with young people's relationship with digital media. In contrast to widespread notions of the empowered and enabled 'digital native', the book presents a more complex picture of young people's digital lives. Focusing on the notion of 'critical digital literacies' this book tackles a number of pressing questions that are often ignored in media hype and political panics over young people's digital media use, including: In what ways can digital media enhance, shape or constrain identity representation and communication? How do digital experiences map onto young people's everyday lives? What are young people's critical understandings of digital media and how did they develop these? What are the dominant understandings young people have of digital media and in whose interests do they work? These questions are addressed through the findings of a year of fieldwork with groups of young people aged 14 to 19 years. Over the course of eight chapters, the experiences and views of these young people are explored with reference to various academic literatures, such as digital literacies, media and communication studies, critical theory and youth studies. Starting with their early socialisation into the digital context, the book traces the continuities, contradictions and conflicts they encounter as part of their practices. Written in a detailed but accessible manner, this book develops a unique perspective on young people's digital lives. Cover; Half Title; Title Page; Copyright Page; Dedication; Table of Contents; List of figures; Acknowledgements; Beginnings; What this book is about; Who this book is for; Outline of the book; References; 1. Young people's digital lives: an introduction; Young people; The digital age; Young people in the digital age; Digital literacies; Fieldwork; Conclusions; Note; References; 2. Digital narratives: a case study; Narrative analysis; Discourses of young people's digital media use; Rachel's story; Themes and trends in Rachel's story; Analysing Rachel's narrative through discourse; Conclusions. NoteReferences; 3. Digital dispositions; What is a dispositif?; The digital dispositif; Digital subjectivities-implications for knowledge, power and agency; Conclusion; Note; References; 4. (Re)presenting identities; Theories of identity; Young people's identity practices; Identity (re)presentation-a series of becomings; Tethering the process of becoming; Architectures of becoming-promises and pitfalls; Conclusions; References; 5. Connecting with others; The politics of platforms; Connecting with others; Platform participation-technologically and socially situated; Conclusions; References. 6. Critical understandings of the digitalThe role that digital media played in the young people's lives; Critical understandings and perspectives; Implications, insights and interpretations; Conclusions; Note; References; 7. Toward a critical digital disposition; What does it mean to be critical of the digital?; Implications for literacies education and research; Critical digital design; Implications for schools and education officials; Implications for platform operators; Implications for parents and families; Implications for young people; Final comments; Notes; References. Appendix 1: detailed description of the fieldworkAppendix 2: participant snapshots; Index.