Virtualization of Social Communication as a Factor in the Socialization of the Young Generation and Its Consequences

The article analyzes the impact of the virtualization of social communication on the socialization of youth. New forms of social interaction, built on computer technologies, are transforming the conditions of youth socialization and altering youth subculture. Value orientations and everyday practices expressed in youth subculture reflect the essential features of modern society and determine possible trends in the development of the dominant culture. The changing nature of communication as a result of its virtualization actualizes the question of the diverse consequences of this phenomenon. Scientific discourse, as a rule, emphasizes the negative consequences of the use of digital technologies; however, the effects of virtual communication are ambivalent. This article examines the dual nature of the consequences of virtual communication in terms of their influence on youth subculture in various aspects – psychological, intellectual, social, and ethical.