Reterritorialized places in the technological era: notes on the boundaries between public and private in the digital environment

Abstract

This text refers to the transformations that have taken place over the past two decades in the field of digital media and the communicative practices associated with them, with particular attention to the emergence and widespread adoption of the smartphone. The smartphone is highlighted as a paradigmatic example of a broader shift in everyday life and in the ways individuals perceive, interact with, and make sense of the world. Given that changes in how we relate to information technologies contribute to an increased permeability between the public and private spheres, this text revisits the (classical) debate concerning the boundaries between public and private—an issue we consider crucial for reflecting on the (digital) public sphere in contemporary society.