Work

Media-Saturated and Morally Contested Teenage Lives: No Space or Time for Nonmedia Moments (and for Being Bored)?

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This article examines how Norwegian teenagers morally assess their media use and how media experiences operate as a means of escaping boredom. Based on qualitative interviews with 24 adolescents, the analysis delineates 3 distinct types of media experiences: ambient, which are morally uncontentious and enrich mundane situations; attentive, which are considered morally “good” because they demand focus, foster insight, and cultivate virtues; and atomized; depicted with moral ambivalence, offering quick escapes, but sometimes leading to feelings of emptiness. This study contributes to understanding the difficulty of resisting instant gratification from omnipresent media when bored and argues that, despite their moral complexities, media remain crucial for a flourishing life.

Source: International journal of communication

DOI: 10.65476/qdg1yt74

Author: Marika Lüders

Institution: University of Oslo

Language: English

Topic: Impact of Technology on Adolescents

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: Universitetet i Oslo, Norges Forskningsråd

Award: G5422393371