The Internet, social media, and sharing or messaging are how young people communicate. It will always be difficult, if not impossible, for adolescents not to use these platforms. Since adolescence is a period of validation and personality formation where sharing and belonging to a group are so important, using technological devices and social networking is something natural for teenagers. Through the Internet, communication can be easier, there is greater acceptance in the group, and it is possible to create a larger network of contacts.
We often see social media as a virtual extension of teens' lives, and it is difficult for them to understand concepts like privacy or sharing personal information. For many teens, everything can be shared with the world because they also have access to the world and other people through social media and the internet.
If it can be difficult for adults to live without the Internet, let's think about the young people born into this generation. In fact, they cannot live without the internet and we can see them being in a bad mood, distressed or anxious if, for example, there is no internet at home or if they are somewhere without WIFI.
The internet has very positive aspects, but like everything else, excessive and incorrect use of it and social media can lead to negative consequences. It is important that young people are aware of the dangers that exist and have the knowledge and skills to enable them to use these types of platforms in the best way possible. It is a generation that is driven by the number of followers, likes, shares, photos, that does not understand the concept of privacy, that sees online relationships or sharing intimate photos as natural.
It is important to warn about the care that should be taken with information that is shared; it is important that teens understand that the world of social media is "a pink world" and a business where influencers, Instagrammers and Youtubers make money from Likes and Views.