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The Impact of Young People's Internet Use on Class Boundaries and Life Trajectories

University of Edinburgh, lisa.lee{at}ed.ac.uk

The article seeks to explore the significance of class membership among young people in the so-called internet age. Internet access and use in Britain has remained by and large concentrated in wealthier households, underlining, at an aggregate level, a clear link between individuals' socio-economic background and their use of the internet.A somewhat contradictory statement emerges, however, from recent claims made by techno-enthusiasts, and apparently young people themselves, about the existence of a digital generation.This generational label suggests that young people today are, irrespective of their background, growing up with a sense of digital expertise, where class boundaries have become obscured. The article discusses this apparent contradiction, based on a study of young internet users.The findings suggest that, while class boundaries can be affected by internet use, the impact of this use remains nonetheless short lived and unlikely to significantly impinge on young people's social mobility in the future.

Key Words: class • internet • youth

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