Abstract

This study offers a new contribution to the limited knowledge concerning Arab-Bedouin girls in Israel by examining how digital platforms influence their identity formation and social transformation. Using an interpretive qualitative approach, fifteen semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with girls aged 16–18 to explore their online practices and meanings. The findings demonstrate that platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram serve as alternative arenas for self-expression, emotional communication, and cross-cultural encounters. The ability to use anonymous or semi-anonymous identities enables the girls to engage in discussions on socially sensitive topics—such as personal aspirations, relationships, and future choices—while still protecting family honor and navigating social expectations. Moreover, digital spaces function as new mechanisms of socialization, allowing interaction with Jewish peers and exposure to broader cultural norms, which fosters feelings of inclusion, emotional safety, and personal empowerment. Through these interactions, a process of negotiating hybrid identities emerges: one that bridges traditional values with modern digital autonomy. Ultimately, the study reveals subtle yet meaningful forms of resistance occurring within online environments—resistance that does not reject tradition but redefines it from within. This gradual identity transformation highlights the evolving roles, voices, and agency of Arab-Bedouin girls in contemporary Israeli society.