BLACK YOUTH AND WEBDATING: THE PERCEPTIONS OF BLACK ADOLESCENTS FROM RIO DE JANEIRO'S PERIPHERAL REGIONS

Abstract

The text presents the perception of young black people from peripheral regions of the state of Rio de Janeiro about webdating, technologies and black youth. Due to the conditions imposed by social isolation, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, many young people have seen apps as a possibility for romantic relationships. The research, methodologically characterized as descriptive, sought to provide qualitative and quantitative evidence of young people's views on the subjects, understanding their intersections. It was found that access to the internet is a limiting factor for the young people surveyed, as only 28 respondents returned the survey, a fact that can also have an impact on their experiences in online sociability networks. Among this group, conventional social interaction apps stand out, with little or no access to specific online dating apps. We did not identify a solid adherence to webdating in this group, but we did find that even among those who have not experienced webdating, they understand the possibility of the dangerous consequences that this type of relationship can have. Regarding race, there was a contradiction: it was pointed out as a positive factor in the online environment, with representativeness emerging with relevance, even though there is prejudice in this place; but also, as something that does not help in online dating. The results also pointed to future parallel studies on the obstacles faced by this group, such as the issue of employability of young black people in peripheries, as well as the impact provided by technology on various aspects of sociability.