Conference Program

In the era of liquidity (Bauman, 2003), characterized by rapid cultural, technological, and social changes, adolescence emerges as a particularly complex and significant stage of the life cycle, marked by biological, psychological, and relational transformations that profoundly affect the construction of personal and social identity. In this sense, the increasing heterogeneity of cultural, educational, and social contexts makes a unitary view of adolescence increasingly inadequate and instead suggests the need to speak of “adolescences” in the plural, in order to acknowledge the multiplicity of experiences, trajectories, and conditions that characterize new generations. This contribution, based on an interdisciplinary approach, analyzes the transformations affecting young people’s lives, focusing on identity-building processes, peer relational dynamics, and the role of key socialization agents such as family, school, and peer groups. The study, in particular, offers a theoretical and interpretive reflection on the emerging challenges faced by contemporary adolescents, highlighting how social and cultural changes can influence self-perception, modes of interaction, and processes of belonging to social groups and virtual communities. Within this perspective, particular attention is given to the impact of digital technologies and social media,genuine habitats (Rivoltella, 2017) where adolescents spend increasing amounts of time and that profoundly redefine spaces of interaction and communication. The daily use of smartphones and digital platforms provides new opportunities for sharing and participation, but also generates significant risks and critical issues, giving rise to increasingly widespread phenomena such as bullying, cyberbullying, and social isolation. These phenomena underscore the need to interpret adolescents’ difficulties not only from an individual perspective but, above all, in light of the structural changes of contemporary society, which redefine the boundaries between public and private space, modes of socialization, and forms of youth participation. In conclusion, the contribution emphasizes the urgency of rethinking traditional educational models and training interventions, promoting strategies capable of responding in an integrated manner to the educational, relational, and existential needs of new generations.