Use of security settings on social networks of elementary and high school students in the Split-Dalmatia County

Abstract

The use of the Internet and modern technologies provide various benefits in daily life and are almost impossible to avoid. Many forms of social behavior have “moved” into the virtual world. In the same time, potential dangers and risks for children and young people and also adults got their online dimension. During the 2016 NZJZ SDŽ conducted quantitative study to identify patterns of behavior on the Internet with a particular focus on Internet security, participation in cyberbullying, Internet addiction and parental controls when using the Internet. The study involved elementary school students (N=286) and high school students (N=539) making a representative sample for the Split-Dalmatia County. The online survey questionnaire was applied. The aim of this manuscript is to present a part of the results of the mentioned research with focus on the use of security settings on social networks of children and young people. Almost an equal proportion of elementary and high school students know how to use additional security settings on social networks (elementary school 85,7% and high school 85%). When asked if they use additional security settings on social networks, high school students use security settings more often than elementary school students (elementary school 69,2% and high school 74%). Furthermore, 22,4% of elementary school students and 25,6% of high school students have a publicly available profile on social networks. This habit is more commonly reported by boys (boys 28,8% and girls 16,3% in elementary schools and boys 36,2% and girls 9,7% in high schools).