Work

Lively data and adolescent life; tracing the Re-assemblage of Iranian adolescents and digital data (video games)

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This paper examines the entanglement of Iranian adolescents with digital data, specifically focusing on video games as significant sources of socialization and emotional development for this particular group. Using a new materialist framework and actor-network theory, we analyse their active participation in digital environments. Through ethnographic methods, including interviews and observations, we reveal how video games facilitate emotional and social growth, fostering peer connections and community among participants. Our findings indicate that these specific digital interactions have a significant impact on the self-perception and personal growth of the adolescents involved in this research, highlighting the active role of digital data in their lives. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of adolescent development in a digital age, illustrating the interplay between technology, identity, and emotional regulation within the context of contemporary socialization for Iranian youth.

Source: International Journal of Adolescence and Youth

DOI: 10.1080/02673843.2025.2497403

Authors: Davoud Zahrani, Seyed Ali Hashemianfar, Ahmad Mehrshad

Institution: University of Isfahan

Language: English

Topic: Digital Games and Media

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,226

Funder: University of Isfahan