PSYCHOLOGICAL CULTURE OF MODERN YOUTH: THREATS AND PROBLEMS OF VIRTUAL SOCIAL SPACE

Abstract

The essence of such concepts as "information culture", "information literacy" and "information worldview" is considered. The conclusion is made about the high level of penetration of information technologies into the lives of modern youth, but the insufficient level of information literacy and information worldview among young people. Based on a quantitative sociological study, the key threats to modern youth arising in the information space are identified. Among the most acute problems for modern youth, we have attributed: Internet addiction of young people, the rupture of real social ties and their substitution with virtual connections, loss of personal freedom, leakage of personal information, involvement in criminal and destructive groups through the Internet. It was noted that the more actively virtual space replaces real social connections, the newer threats are recorded in the Internet space. It has been established that criminal work on the Internet is especially active against teenagers. It is determined that the level of information culture among young people is correlated with age. The younger the respondents, the lower their level of information culture. It is concluded that social norms in the virtual space lag behind specific practices. Thus, modern society needs to more actively develop rules and norms of behavior in a new environment for it -the virtual space. The recommendation is given to develop the norms of information culture and cultural competencies among young people more actively. Educational programs should include issues of information literacy, including information security. All organizations working with young people need to step up their efforts toraise awareness of personal information security issues, especially among young people.