Ivane Javakhishvili Institute of History and Ethnology, TSU
PhD in Anthropology
Tbilisi/Georgia
tea.kamushadze@tsu.ge
Abstract
The development of digital technologies has significantly transformed the process of socialization. Whereas traditionally social integration took place within the family, school, and physical public spaces, today this process largely unfolds in virtual environments. Social media platforms, online groups, and digital communication tools create new social fields in which individuals not only interact but also construct identities, norms, and forms of relationships.
This thesis is grounded in the theoretical frameworks of digital anthropology and online ethnography (netnography). Of particular importance are the approaches of Daniel Miller and Tom Boellstorff, who conceptualize digital space as an integral part of everyday social life rather than a separate “virtual reality.” In addition, Erving Goffman’s theory of self-presentation provides a useful lens for understanding the performative nature of online identity.
The research is based on participant observation within an online social environment (a social media group or chat platform), where forms of communication, the formation of social norms, and the structuring of group identity are analyzed. Methodologically, the study employs online ethnography, which includes the observation and interpretation of digital content (posts, comments, chats).
Preliminary analysis indicates that socialization in virtual spaces is characterized by several key features: the flexibility and experimental nature of identity, the acceleration of emotional communication (likes, emojis, short comments), and the rapid formation and regulation of group norms. At the same time, online interactions often combine elements of both solidarity and conflict, turning digital environments into complex social fields.
In conclusion, digital socialization does not replace traditional social relationships; rather, it creates a parallel, hybrid form in which an individual’s social experience is simultaneously shaped within both physical and virtual spaces.
Keywords: digital socialization, digital anthropology, online ethnography, online identity, virtual communities, group norms, hybrid social space.