PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL RISKS OF DIGITALIZATION IN ADOLESCENTS Blandína Šramová 1 , & Anežka Hamranová 2 1 Faculty of Multimedia Communications, Tomas Bata University in Zlin (The Czech Republic) 2 Faculty of Education, Comenius University Bratislava (The Slovak Republic) Abstract The paper is primarily focused on the psychological and social risks of digitalization in adolescent girls and boys. Recently, we have witnessed an increasing digitalization in adolescents, especially during Covid-19 restrictions. Several factors play a positive and negative role in using digital media in the development process. In this paper, we focus on clarifying key problems from the psychological point of view. The research was based on a qualitative (interview) research design. The sample consisted of 45 adolescents aged between 16- and 23-year-old. It is well known that contemporary adolescents are surrounded by digital media that fulfil entertaining and educational, informational, and social functions. It is essential to have good models during identity-forming, and adolescents are often looking for their models online. Our findings showed fundamental problems of adolescents these days: the FOMO effect (Fear of missing out), feeling of loneliness and cyberbullying. On the other hand, we found a high level of digital literacy, a substitute for face-to-face social interaction by the mobile application during Covid-19 restrictions, and the use of digital devices for relaxation, entertainment, and education. Keywords: Adolescents, digitalization, lifestyle, identity. 1. Introduction Digitalization is a phenomenon that brings us both benefits and threats. Technological devices have become more accessible to young people. We can see the benefits of easily accessible information, faster decision-making and problem-solving. In this paper, we focus on the positive and negative aspects of digitalization in adolescents. Among the threats, we should mention lower physical activity, higher anxiety, feeling of loneliness, threat of dependence on digital media, and cyberbullying, i.e., a method for bullies using digital media. We see a revolution in usage with the arrival of smartphones on the market, both among children, young people, and adults. It is well known that digital technology affects all generations, but adolescents are more vulnerable because of the identity process. Adolescence is a period between puberty and adulthood, with a more open-minded, risk-taking, and impulsive behaviour (Hammond et al., 2012). Identity development during adolescence and young adulthood is the topic of many studies or books (Erikson, 1968; Berzonsky & Pappini, 2015). The emphasis is on normative developmental tasks (Erikson, 1968), an effort to formulate meaningful identities in the social context (Ferrer-Wreder & Kroger, 2020). Nowadays, gender, sexuality, digital technology, and social media play a particular role in forming identity when young people are concerned with resolving “issues of intimacy, generativity, and integrity” (Ferrer & Kroger, 2020, p.12). Apprehension about adolescents’ social media and digital technology use is undeniable (e.g., UNICEF, 2017). They are continuously connected for entertainment and communication. They make virtual profiles to try different forms of presentations of themselves (Manago, 2014), which is the phase of identity process creation. On the other hand, we must focus on a very serious problem these days, the FOMO effect (fear of missing out), fear of missing something, and fear of disconnection. It is hazardous in adolescents’ development period. The period of creating their identity when being a part of a social group is significant. To be accepted by their peers on social networking sites such as Instagram or TikTok, and to be informed through instant messengers such as WhatsApp (Dienlin & Johannes, 2020) are crucial. Adolescents’ fear of missing out on what is happening on social sites should be taken seriously. p-ISSN: 2184-044X e-ISSN: 2184-1489 ISBN: 978-989-53614-3-4 © 2022 https://doi.org/10.36315/2022v1end059 256