Adolescent use of new media and Internet technologies : debating risks and opportunities in the digital age

This book engages with contemporary, and often polarizing, debates surrounding the risks of adolescent use of digital media and internet technologies. By drawing on multiple research studies, the text synthesizes current understandings of the impacts of social network use, online gaming, pornography, and phenomena, including cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and internet addiction, to develop recommendations for the effective identification of at-risk youth, as well as strategies for informed communication about online risks and opportunities. It shows how media discussion of risks to children and teenagers from new technology is highly emotive and often exaggerated, rooted in the “moral panic” surrounding new cultural practices that young people engage in, but which adults do not understand. Online risks are thus conceptualized as centering on three areas, specific to adolescence, which have undergone radical changes due to new internet technology. These include young people’s identity, the types of content that are accessed, and social relationships. The author shows how these matters stem from the potential of new technology to establish new interpersonal connections, emphasizing how it brings opportunities, as much as risks. As such, he provides a uniquely balanced discussion of potential dangers, while also emphasizing the opportunities for social, academic, and personal growth which new technologies afford young people. It will be indispensable for researchers and clinicians interested in assessing levels of online risk, as well as scholars and educators with interests in cyberpsychology, social psychology, cyber culture, social aspects of computing and media, and adolescent development. This book engages with contemporary, and often polarizing, debates surrounding the risks of adolescent use of digital media and internet technologies. It will be indispensable for researchers and clinicians interested in assessing levels of online risk, as well as scholars with interests in cyberpsychology and social psychology. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Table of Contents 6 List of Illustrations 8 Acknowledgments 9 Chapter 1: Introduction: “Moral Panics” and the Debates over Online Risks 10 1.1 Introduction: How Online Risks Are Portrayed in the Media 10 1.2 Why Moral Panics Tend to Focus on Young People and New Aspects of Culture 12 1.3 The Scientific Response to Moral Panics about New Technologies 17 1.4 Outline of the Argument 22 1.4.1 Theme 1 – Connections 23 1.4.2 Theme 2 – Risks 23 1.4.3 Theme 3 – Opportunities 23 Notes 26 References 26 Chapter 2: New Identities: Visual Communication, Screen Time, and Young People’s Wellbeing 28 2.1 Changes in Young People’s Identities with Age 28 2.2 Visual Communication Online: A Foreign Language for Parents 33 2.3 From “Screen Time” to Problematic Internet Use 39 2.4 The Dark Side of Visual Communication: Negative Social Comparison, Low Self-esteem, and Depression 45 2.5 Body Image 48 2.6 New Opportunities for Mental Health Interventions 51 2.7 Conclusion 52 Notes 55 References 55 Chapter 3: New Content: Social Gaming, Online Pornography, and Knowledge Sharing 64 3.1 Why Is New Content So Threatening to Old Moral Values? 64 3.2 The Rise of Gamer Culture 66 3.3 Violent Video Games: A Classic Moral Panic? 71 3.4 Problems with Pornography 75 3.5 Risks to Privacy from Sharing Content 82 3.6 The Bright Side of Sharing Content: Informal Knowledge Networks 86 3.7 Conclusion 90 Note 92 References 93 Chapter 4: New Relationships: Online Dating, Cyberbullying, and Intergroup Contact 101 4.1 Changes in Young People’s Social Networks with Age 101 4.2 New Kinds of Connections Online 103 4.3 Looking for the Right Swipe on Tinder 108 4.4 Cyberharassment, Cyberstalking, and Revenge Porn 112 4.5 Cyberbullying: New Problems or Old Patterns? 117 4.6 International Networking: An Online Contact Hypothesis 122 4.7 Conclusion 125 References 129 Chapter 5: Conclusion 139 5.1 Outline of the Argument 139 5.2 Recommendations 142 5.3 Complications of COVID-19 145 5.4 The Future of Online Interactions 147 References 148 Index 151 Social,Media;,Media,Studies;,Digital,Age;,Risks,of,media,consumption;,Smartphone,addiction;,Adolescence;,Cyber-risk;,Adolescent;,Youth,culture;,Technoculture;,Computer,human,interaction;,Online,risks;,Internet,addiction;,Cyberpsychology;,Cybersecurity;,Media,consumption;,Gaming;,Online,gaming;,Porn Social Media,Media Studies,Digital Age,Risks of media consumption,Smartphone addiction,Adolescence,Cyber-risk,Adolescent,Youth culture,Technoculture,Computer human interaction,Online risks,Internet addiction,Cyberpsychology,Cybersecurity,Media consumption,Gaming,Online gaming,Porn "This book engages with contemporary, and often polarizing, debates surrounding the risks of adolescent use of digital media and internet technologies. By drawing on multiple research studies, the text synthesizes current understandings of the impacts of social network use, online gaming, pornography, and phenomena including cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and internet addiction, to develop recommendations for the effective identification of at-risk youth, as well as strategies for informed communication about online risks and opportunities. It shows how media discussion of risks to children and teenagers from new technology is highly emotive and often exaggerated, rooted in the "moral panic" surrounding new cultural practices that young people engage in, but which adults do not understand. Online risks are thus conceptualized as centring on three areas, specific to adolescence, which have undergone radical changes due to new internet technology. These include young people's identity, the types of content that are accessed, and social interactions. The author shows how these matters stem from the potential of new technology to establish new interpersonal connections, emphasising how it brings opportunities, as much as risks. As such, he provides a uniquely balanced discussion of potential dangers, while also emphasizing the opportunities for social, academic, and personal growth which new technologies afford young people. It will be indispensable for researchers and clinicians interested in assessing levels of online risk, as well as scholars and educators with interests in cyberpsychology, social psychology, cyber culture, social aspects of computing and media, and adolescent development"-- Provided by publisher