The consumption and production of content as ways for the construction of new identities

Abstract

This essay explores how the shift to audiovisual media has led to new networks of socialization. Digital platforms not only allow for on-demand consumption but also provide young people with avenues to produce their own content. This means that each social actor, as they navigate their educational journey alongside digital media, mobile applications, and audiovisual consumption, possesses new tools to shape and expand their sense of identity. Attending university and graduating are no longer the sole aspirations of young people; becoming an influencer or content creator is now an attainable goal. This leads to the following research questions: What content do university students consume and produce during their first year of studies? How do new platforms and digital spaces generate more social networks? What new mechanisms and forms of interaction are established through digital platforms and spaces during the first year of studies? What new identities are constructed through these new networks of consumption?