Features of social capital in mixed reality among adolescents and young people with different levels of personal and user characteristics

This study examines the evolving construction of social networks – social capital – in the mixed online/offline reality of the digital age. The aim is to comparatively analyze the characteristics of online and offline social capital among adolescents and young adults, considering variations in personality traits and user characteristics. The study involved 1548 adolescents and young adults who completed questionnaires assessing social capital, digital literacy, user activity, experiences of positive and negative online communication, life satisfaction, basic beliefs, and social responsibility. A general social capital index was calculated, distinguishing between bridging (close, strong ties) and bonding (broad networks of acquaintances) social capital. Results revealed that adolescents exhibited stronger bonding capital, while young adults demonstrated greater bridging capital. The correlation between online and offline indicators supports the formation of hybrid social capital as a resource for managing social life. Social capital correlated primarily not with digital literacy or user activity, but with personality characteristics such as positive self-image (self-worth), luck, control, and benevolence of the world, particularly among young women. Among young men, social capital played a less significant role in subjective well-being. For adolescents, expanding social circles and accumulating social capital were strongly linked to life satisfaction and the desire for social group recognition. Positive online communication fostered the expansion of weak ties, while negative communication strengthened strong ties. The findings highlight the importance of social capital as a psychological resource in the context of converging online and offline worlds.

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* The  product  of  the  Meta  company,  whose  activities  are  recognized  as  an  extremist  in  the  Russian  Federation.