A Sociological Investigation of Social Anxiety in the Risk Age: A Documentary Analysis of Environmental Insecurity and Digital Insecurity in the Contemporary World

Document Type : Original Article

Author

M.A. in Sociology, Iran

10.5281/zenodo.21853700
Abstract
The present study, entitled "A Sociological Investigation of Social Anxiety in the Risk Age: In recent decades, human society has increasingly confronted two fundamental forms of insecurity: first, environmental crises such as climate change, drought, air pollution, and the depletion of natural resources, which pose a serious threat to human life; and second, digital insecurities including cyberattacks, privacy violations, and the expansion of technological surveillance, which undermine the psychological and social security of individuals. These two domains appear distinct on the surface, yet at a deeper level they converge on a common point: the production of social anxiety and the reproduction of fear of an uncertain future. Employing a documentary analysis approach within the theoretical framework of Ulrich Beck's "Risk Society" and the sociology of emotions, this research investigates the representation of environmental and digital insecurities in scientific, media, and policy documents. The findings indicate that social anxiety is not merely an individual reaction but a social and structural phenomenon reproduced through the salience of threats in public discourse and deficiencies in institutional management. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that factors such as policy transparency, enhancement of environmental and digital literacy, institutional trust, social capital, and resilience education can play a fundamental role in reducing social anxiety. Based on the findings, it can be asserted that social anxiety in the risk age reflects the manner in which societies confront modern threats, and its management requires a combination of sustainable environmental policies, efficient digital security, and the strengthening of cultural and social capacities. This study, by revealing the sociological dimensions of social anxiety, can contribute to the design of effective social and cultural policies aimed at mitigating the psychological and social consequences of contemporary threats.

Graphical Abstract

A Sociological Investigation of Social Anxiety in the Risk Age: A Documentary Analysis of Environmental Insecurity and Digital Insecurity in the Contemporary World

Keywords

Subjects

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