Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Modern Research in Social Sciences
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Formation of Virtual Social Identity: A Coping Strategy for Addressing Negative Social Identity Among Unemployed Youth
Prof. Anastasia Kitiashvili
ABSTRACT:
High youth unemployment rates have profound psychological and social impacts, frequently resulting in adverse social identities. Through a socio-psychological lens, this study investigates how unemployment can lead to feelings of social isolation, disrupting individuals’ sense of identity and diminishing well-being. It is hypothesized that unemployed youth, facing social isolation and a lack of interactions, utilize virtual social identities as a means of redefining their sense of self-worth and belonging in online communities. This study explores the formation of virtual social identities as a coping strategy for negative social identity among unemployed youth. Through a mixed-methods approach combining 25 qualitative interviews and 180 quantitative surveys, the study explores how virtual environments provide a platform for identity recovery for unemployed youth. Findings suggest significant associations between youth unemployment and lack of relationships, exacerbated by experiences of social segregation having negative impacts on social identity and well-being. The research revealed that virtual identities served as adaptive coping strategies for the unemployed youth, offering a platform for social interaction, self-expression, and identity experimentation, thereby mitigating the negative effects of their offline social identity. Qualitative findings provided nuanced insights into the subjective experiences of unemployment, highlighting themes of stigma, isolation, and thwarted aspirations. The study underscores the importance of virtual spaces in youth social identity formation and suggests implications for social policy and interventions aimed at improving the well-being of young people.
keywords: youth unemployment, social identity, virtual identity, social segregation, well-being