Ally or enemy? Cyberworld and adolescents' well-being

Close to 90% of adolescents are using digital technology and spend much of their day texting, exploring web sites, interacting online with peers or strangers, gaming online, downloading films or music, watching videos online, blogging, shopping online, etc. Many adults express their concern about whether adolescents' frequent use of new technologies is having a negative influence on their development. The purpose of this paper is to examine the possible consequences of digital technology use on the well-being of adolescents. The data about the impact of modern technology and forms of communication on adolescents is inconclusive, partly because of some shortcomings of study designs, partly due to rapid changes in digital technology. The most recent research is reviewed. The paper opens with the presentation of basic facts and numbers about using digital technology by adults and adolescents in the world, with a focus on social media. Several motives for children's internet use are listed: the affinity with a computer, seeking information, recreational reasons, avoidance of boredom, making new friends and socialize with old ones. Next, the most popular parents' concerns are presented, such as fear about adolescents' online interactions (with whom), cyberbullying, separation from real life, experimenting with identities, etc. Parents' fears have been confronted with scientific findings. It occurred that some concerns are justified (e.g., the problem of cyberbullying, multitasking, or sleep disruption). Other fears are not confirmed by data (e.g., concerning social development or parent-child relations). Also, the evidence suggests that moderate use of digital technology tends to be beneficial for children's mental well-being, while no use or too much use can have a small negative impact.