The rise of the electronic individual: A study of how young Swedish teenagers use and perceive Internet

The title of this article ‘The rise of the electronic individual’ tries to grasp several of those changes which young people in today’s Western society are confronting in a new digital media environment. With its various functions/services and characteristics such as multimedia, hypertext, interactivity etc., Internet (its users) has created a virtual reality, often called Cyberspace. Besides describing where Internet has been seen or used, what it is utilised for, how often the medium is used, and the attitudes to Internet among young Swedish teenagers, the article puts its focus on the alternative public sphere that is provided by Internet. It is a matter of getting access to a virtual arena, often without interference from parents, teachers and other elderly, where different roles and identities are tried out. The school yard is no longer perceived as the obvious meeting point as young people are entering the social landscape of Internet. For example, chatting and sending e-mail have become a natural way of becoming acquainted with other peers from all over the world.