The Role of the Internet in the Integration of Immigrant Youth from Former Yugoslavia into Slovenian Society

ABSTRACT

Since there is no study available in the current literature which explores the role of the Internet in the lives of immigrant youth, this study attempts to fill in part of the research gap. Interviews with adolescents who were born in the former Yugoslavia and who moved to Slovenia during the time of their primary socialization showed that the Internet provides bridging and bonding capital, social empowerment and the opportunity to experiment with identities through its diverse cultural and linguistic content, easy accessibility, interactivity and anonymity.

KEY WORDS: adolescents, immigration, social capital, the Internet, Slovenia, countries of former Yugoslavia