Treffer: Research on methods of prevention among young people as users of social networks

Growing up has never been an easy and straight-forward process. The list of problems and challenges children have to deal with or overcome seems to be endless. The puberty brings the rapid physical changes, which can cause concerns, worries and uneasiness. There are different psychological and emotional changes, as the youngsters try to form new social networks outside their family and assert their role in these new relationships. This process helps the young people to become independent and self-confident, but can also lead to conflicts, rejections, disappointments, distress. Inevitably, the path to independence and adulthood leads through a field of new experiences, some of which may be risky or even dangerous. Wanting to fit in with their peers, many young people experiment with alcohol, cigarettes or even narcotics. The sexualized media environment and pressure to have a certain look or appearance can lead to depression, low self-esteem, eating and sleeping disorders and other psycho-emotional problems. Next on the list are the challenges related to school performance, sexuality and sexual relations, inter- generational conflicts, bullying and other abuse among peers. Internet and digital technologies should not be seen as another challenge on this list. Rather, they are a tool through which old challenges can appear in a new form. The more time children spend online, the more risks they face. The need to develop a methodology for studying the methods for prevention of the risks, related to social networks is dictated by recent results from academic research and expert opinions about the positive and negative effect internet may have on young people’s development and health. A serious work is needed to prevent risks, related to social media and to be successful it requires a scientific approach. The study aims to investigate, analyze and systematize the methods for prevention of the risks and harms, associated to social networks and their possible negative impact on young people (age 14 – 29 years). To ...