Introduction: Mediated intimacies

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book analyses the way in which stories of sexual violence are told and retold. It considers the way in which relational intimacies are carried out in contemporary society by carefully investigating the intimacies of the hackerspace community. The book examines the way in which Scandinavian mothers with donor-conceived children connect with each other digitally through Facebook and form an intimate online community. It focuses on 'textures' that form in and around digital intimacy heartbreak, encompassing various forms of heartbreak and sadness, loss and mourning. The book also analyses the network connectivity that is enabled through various online applications and devices, such as Tinder, Skype, text messaging and Facebook. It also examines how Snapchat co-forms intimacies among teenagers. The book also shows that gay men rely heavily on mediated methods of obtaining and managing relationships and fulfilling sexual needs.