This article examines young people's narratives of rejection of social networking sites (SNSs). It draws upon data of 30 semi-structured interviews with young people aged 18-26 from Portugal. The findings show that reasons for rejecting SNSs are related to three main categories: perceived usefulness of SNSs; specific social practices in SNSs (e.g., disclosure of personal data and gossip); and self-presentation and identity. In addition, our data point to four types of non-users: resisters, rejecters, surrogate users, and potential converts. This typology challenges dichotomies, such as, usage versus non-usage, access versus non-access, and consumption versus non-consumption. Finally, we explore feelings of missing out and social strategies set in place by non-users to cope with the pervasive use of SNSs among young people. We contribute, therefore, to the limited literature on rejection of social media amongst this group, by giving voice to young non-users and their choices.
Responding to the dominant body of research on young people and their use of social networking sites, this article analyzes narratives of non-use. Drawing on 30 interviews with young adults, we explored meanings of voluntary exclusion of digital platforms that seem to be progressively embedded in the daily life of this cohort. Findings show that non-use is diverse and transient, being deeply connected to identity(ies) and social actions. As such, we identify four types of non-users: rejecters, resisters, surrogate users, and potential converts. This typology challenges the dichotomies present in the literature around use and non-use, access and non-access, and consumption and non-consumption. We suggest and discuss the sociological perspective and “ideal type” of Max Weber as a valuable analytical approach to deconstruct such dichotomies.
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