Youth in digital media: formation of the network “I”

Abstract

The article presents a philosophical and cultural-philosophical analysis of the formation of the networked“self” of youth in the context of contemporary digital culture. The aim of the study is to identify the mechanisms through which the global digital environment influences processes of self-identification, selfpresentation, and social interaction. The methodological framework is based on qualitative analysis of scholarly literature, a comparative-analytical approach, and an interdisciplinary synthesis of theoretical conceptsdeveloped in contemporary philosophy, sociology, cultural studies, and media studies. Particular attention ispaid to the role of social media, algorithmic systems, and participatory culture as key factors in the formationof a new digital subjectivity. The study demonstrates that the networked “self” represents a dynamic, multilayered, and distributed form of identity, emerging through the continuous interaction of the subject with digital platforms, imagined audiences, and algorithmically structured environments. It is revealed that selfpresentation, active participation in online communities, and rigid algorithmic regulation function as interrelated mechanisms in the construction of identity. The findings enhance understanding of personality transformation in the information society and can inform educational strategies and digital literacy, while contributing to the theoretical analysis of anthropological shifts driven by rapid technologization.