The Heuristic Potential of the Network Approach in Reconstructing Latent Structures of Digital Identity

The article investigates the heuristic potential of the network approach in the context of reconstructing latent structures of digital identity. The authors conduct a comprehensive analysis of the evolution and methodological status of network theory in modern sociological science. The introductory part reconstructs the key historical stages of the formation of network theories and the basic principles that determined the shift of research focus from the attributes of objects to the structure of their interactions. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of connections between actors and the role of the category of “social capital”, the use of which provides a significant increase in the explanatory capabilities of network methodology. The paper examines in detail the theoretical contribution of scientists such as Manuel Castells and Barry Wellman, whose concepts laid the foundation for the theory of the network society and became the basis for the empirical analysis of various types of digital communications. The main part of the article analyzes Actor-Network Theory (ANT), which represents a significant resource for understanding the specifics of social interactions in a modern hybrid society. The authors identify a number of promising directions for future research, including the need for in-depth detection of structural patterns in social networks and the development of universal algorithms for empirical analysis. Critical rethinking of traditional sociological approaches through the prism of the network paradigm is also discussed. The conclusion emphasizes the status of network theory as a powerful tool for interdisciplinary synthesis necessary for diagnosing complexly organized social structures and processes.