The paper seeks to investigate the processes of political subjectivation among young individuals resulting from their engagement in digital image practices. The primary objective is to analyze how young people articulate and negotiate notions of (in)justice in the context of algorithmically structured political utopias and dystopias related to climate change. In particular, we examine concepts (and utopias) of care as they become central to the climate movement, such as transgenerational and transnational care as well as care for nature. We specifically explore how these different modes and concepts of care are articulated via digital media (Liou & Literat 2020). As the climate crisis can also be understood as a generational crisis, temporality and care, respectively generativity (Friberg 2021; King 2022), become closely linked within the activist’ discourse and refer to questions of continuity and transmission, especially within fast-moving digital realms that are mostly frequented by youth and young adults (Literat & Kligler-Vilenchik 2023). Our theoretical framework draws on educational and youth theories, examining how digital image practices influence the thematization of the world and self. The research explores the articulation and negotiation of political ideas and ideals within algorithmically structured contexts, using qualitative analysis of juvenile climate policy articulations on digital platforms. This methodology allows for a nuanced exploration of how young individuals engage in political discourse online, taking into account the algorithmic structures that shape their interactions. By using a qualitative approach, the project aims to uncover the underlying orders of recognition and power dynamics associated with the articulation of political views in digital spaces. The primary data source for this study consists of climate policy articulations by young people on digital image and video platforms such as TikTok or Instagram. The study shows how digital platforms structure political protest in relation to changing concepts of care and time. By understanding the dynamics of social and political participation within these digital spaces, the study aims to reveal opportunities and barriers to access educational spaces and contribute to a broader understanding of (post)digital orders and their implications for education and youth theory. This research therefore contributes to the broader discourse on (in)justice and utopias in an algorithmized society and in an age of uncertainty by presenting the perspectives of young individuals articulated within digital activist spaces.

Friberg, A. (2021): On the need for (con)temporary utopias: Temporal reflections on the climate rhetoric of environmental youth movements. Time & Society, 31(1), 48-68. Literat, I. & Kligler-Vilenchik, N. (2023): TikTok as a Key Platform for Youth Political Expression: Reflecting on the Opportunities and Stakes Involved. Social Media + Society, 9(1). Liou, A. & Literat, I. (2020). „We Need You to Listen to Us”: Youth Activist Perspectives on Intergenerationale Dynamics and Adult Solidarity in Youth Movements. In. International Journal of Communication 14, 4662-4682. King, V. (2022). Generative Verantwortung im Anthropozän. Psyche, 26(12), 1123–1146.