“En Insta se busca más una reacción”. Caracterización, contenidos y uso de las redes para la comunicación interpersonal entre jóvenes

Résumé

This study analyses the decisions made by current generations of young people (Millennials and Generation Z) as users of digital technologies for interpersonal communication through ICTs, describing the expressive characteristics they attribute to social networks (Instagram) and instant messaging (WhatsApp). A mixed method is used to approach the research: on the one hand, the application of a self-administered questionnaire, as a pilot study and development platform for qualitative research; on the other hand, ten group dynamics with national and international undergraduate and postgraduate university students from two Spanish universities, one public and one private. The results show that WhatsApp and Instagram are the main channels for communication and the shaping of digital identity, but their use changes depending on the needs, interlocutors, and services of the application. The representations linked to these applications for interpersonal communication are well differentiated and clear reasons are given for their preference and suitability to the interests of digital natives. Millennials and Centennials are linked to a digital culture of “resident” users (White and Le Cornu, 2011), although some differences are observed between both groups with regard to the uses they make of these applications. WhatsApp and Instagram are affected by the COVID19 experience and undergo important transformations.