Reimagining Identity in Mobile Apps: The Intersection of Gender and Sexuality Among Young Adults

Abstract

The influence of digital media and mobile technologies on the interpersonal dynamics of young individuals across various aspects of their daily lives underscores the significant role of digital media in shaping their experiences. Research exploring how individuals engage with mobile applications (m-apps) has revealed the constraining effects of platform norms and politics on users' expressive identities. This chapter examines the evolving landscape of media consumption, engagement and civic participation amidst the proliferation of new media modalities, focussing on m-apps. The authors highlight the pervasive adoption of mobile apps across diverse categories and the escalating temporal investment individuals allocate to these platforms for fostering interpersonal connections. Drawing from a feminist and intersectional perspective, the authors explore how young adults navigate the technicity and imaginaries of m-apps, incorporating them into their daily routines and (re)negotiating their gender and sexual identities. Through the MyGender project, the authors investigate the relationship between m-apps and power dynamics, examining the construction and reconstruction of gender and sexuality across platforms. The findings underscore the need for critical engagement with digital technologies as sociocultural products actively reshaping gender relations and sexual practices. The text ends with an overview of the book, briefly presenting the remaining nine chapters.

Citation

Flores, A.M.M., Amaral, I. and de Simões, R.B. (2024), "Reimagining Identity in Mobile Apps: The Intersection of Gender and Sexuality Among Young Adults", Amaral, I., de Simões, R.B. and Flores, A.M.M. (Ed.) Young Adulthood Across Digital Platforms, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83753-524-820241001