This article analyzes data from a qualitative study that aims to investigate the well-being and vulnerability of Swiss children and adolescents in residential care. The empirical findings focus on the importance of digital media for children’s and adolescents’ well-being from their perspectives. The results highlight how smartphones enable more possibilities and the creation of digital spaces for the creation and maintenance of well-being, emphasizing social relationship as the basis for autonomy, identity, safety and agency. It also reveals the importance for vulnerability associated with digital media, including unwanted attention and harassment. The results call for a balanced approach of providing protection but still maintaining participation and thus cautioning against excessive control and punitive measures regarding digital media in residential care.
