ABSTRACT
Digital technology is embedded in all spheres of life, and there is little to be gained from delineations of good or bad. Research shows that where access and skills are promoted, digital technology and social media can enhance the interactions of young people with their teacher, particularly marginalised students, and can increase their confidence in educational activities. Social media has many potential positive influences on young people's lives, such as: increasing opportunities to acquire knowledge and learn new skills; facilitating supportive relationships; enabling safe identity experimentation; and, promoting a sense of belonging and increased self-esteem. Most young people benefit from experiencing some degree of risk as it enables them to develop the resilience to deal with risks online. The Internet provides a setting for identity experimentation as young people seek to understand how they fit into the world around them.
