The lockdown imposed in England in response to the COVID-19 pandemic involved an unprecedented ‘shift to digital’, including in relationships between non-cohabiting individuals. This article examines young people’s perspectives on and experiences of using networked communication technologies (NCTs) in romantic relationships during lockdown, based on 14 focus groups (n = 80) and interviews (n = 38) conducted with young people in England during 2021–2022. Using critical realist theory, we identify interplays between lockdown as a condition, NCT affordances and wider norms, meanings and expectations for relationships. Participants were ambivalent about interacting online during lockdown, with interlocking risks and opportunities specific to and transcending lockdown as a condition. Implications are discussed regarding meanings and experiences of post-digital relationships for young people, both during and post-pandemic.

中文翻译：

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英国 COVID-19“封锁”期间年轻人的“后数字化”关系


英国为应对 COVID-19 大流行而实施的封锁涉及前所未有的“数字化转变”，包括非同居个人之间的关系。本文基于 2021 年至 2022 年期间对英格兰年轻人进行的 14 个焦点小组 (n = 80) 和访谈 (n = 38)，探讨了年轻人在封锁期间在恋爱关系中使用网络通信技术 (NCT) 的观点和经验。 。利用批判现实主义理论，我们确定了作为一种条件的封锁、NCT 的可供性以及更广泛的关系规范、意义和期望之间的相互作用。参与者对封锁期间的在线互动持矛盾态度，因为特定的风险和机遇相互关联，并超越了封锁作为条件。讨论了大流行期间和之后年轻人的后数字关系的意义和经历的影响。