Understanding the phenomena of control in the adolescent requires a deep dive into the today’s virtual world. The main formal change linked to our modern world is mastery of the image, of imaginary museums, as a way of shaping the body image. Whipping out the cultural object that is the smartphone acts as a shield to protect against certain moments in speaking and can potentially become a relationship object in the encounter between the adolescent and the clinician.

Adolescence, 2024, 42, 1, 129-140.