The present study aimed to explore the lived experiences of Generation Z boys in cyberspace and to identify the factors contributing to their vulnerability to harm. This study was conducted using a qualitative approach and Charmaz’s grounded theory method. The participants consisted of 15 Generation Z boys who were selected through purposive and theoretical sampling from among clients referring to psychological counseling centers. Data were collected through semi structured interviews and analyzed using a systematic coding process.


The findings indicated that the factors affecting the vulnerability of Generation Z boys in cyberspace can be classified into four main themes: “chaotic context,” “unaware self presentation,” “normative–institutional constraints,” and “stimulating liberation.” The results show that the harms experienced by boys in cyberspace are not merely the result of the characteristics of this space; rather, they emerge from the complex interaction of individual, familial, socio cultural, and virtual factors that are intensified and reproduced within this context. The experiences indicate that their agency in cyberspace is not merely an intentional and freely chosen action, but a meaningful response to a lifeworld filled with identity frustrations, emotional deprivation, gender pressures, and the weakness of regulatory institutions. In this regard, cyberspace, rather than being the primary cause of harm, has become a context for intensifying and reproducing pre existing vulnerabilities, thereby forming a cycle of dependency, inner conflict, and psychosocial harm. Accordingly, adopting a multidimensional approach to analyzing cyberspace related harms and designing awareness and intervention programs tailored to youth and their families appears necessary.