(851) PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF INTERNET USE OF MODERN ADOLESCENCE

摘要

The article presents data about the psychological characteristics of internet use of modern adolescents regarding: time of stay on the Internet; Internet-related emotional experiences; attitude of parents and friends towards the virtual life of adolescents; Internet influences on learning activity and academic success; friendships and personal expression on the Internet; Internet activities. The survey was conducted with 339 teenagers from Bulgaria aged between 13 and 17, who are internet service users. The psychological characteristics of internet use of adolescents were investigated through an author's questionnaire [1]. The results show that the majority of adolescents enjoy the experience when they are on the internet, and for some of them, the time spent in the virtual environment is a significant personal need. There is evidence of Internet-related risk influences on adolescents related to strong emotional engagement with virtual life, the creation of friendships only through the internet, the deterioration of the quality of learning activity, unobstructed access to uncensored information on the Internet. The longest time on the Internet is spent by adolescents who enjoy or have strong emotional attachment to the virtual environment. Research data proves that it is necessary to promote among the teenagers the possible harmful effects of the Internet with regard to the prolonged stay in front of the screen of the connecting devices, the strong emotional attachment to virtual life; the possible risks of communicating on the Internet, the risks of using information from the Internet. It is necessary to promote information among parents about the effective control of the behaviour of adolescents in the virtual environment.