The role of social networks in forming the self-image of adolescents

Razdoblje adolescencije razdoblje je razvitka osobe i prelaska u odraslu dob, a razvitak zdrave slike o sebi jedan je od važnijih zadataka adolescencije. Društvene mreže sveprisutan su dio današnjice te način provođenja slobodnog vremena mnogih adolescenata. Cilj je ovog istraživanja bio ispitati obilježja samopoštovanja adolescenata. Rad problematizira odnos samopoštovanja i društvenih mreža te odnos samopoštovanja i sociodemografskih obilježja s naglaskom na rizičnom ponašanju. Istraživanje je provedeno tijekom prosinca 2021. godine u Zagrebu anketnim upitnikom koji je izrađen za potrebe rada. Provedeno je na uzorku od 368 ispitanika (49,7% muškog spola, 48,1% ženskog spola te 2,2% ostalih, koji spol nisu označili). Ispitanici su bili učenici u dobi od 12 do 17 godina, tj. učenici sedmog (25%) i osmog razreda (21,5%) triju osnovnih škola te prvog (26,1%) i drugog razreda (27,4%) jedne srednje škole na području grada Zagreba. Istraživanjem je utvrđeno kako adolescenti imaju pozitivnu sliku o sebi. Utvrđeno je i da, s obzirom na sociodemografska obilježja (spol, razred), imaju različite navike i ponašanja na društvenim mrežama, kao i da adolescenti koji se više koriste društvenim mrežama izvještavaju o nižem samopoštovanju. Rezultati su istraživanja ukazali na važnost i budućnost medijskoga odgoja i obrazovanja te na važnost organizacije slobodnog vremena mladih. Medijsko obrazovanje alat je kojim bi se osvješćivao utjecaj društvenih mreža na pojedinca, a organizacija slobodnog vremena pridonijela bi razvitku pozitivne slike o sebi.The period of adolescence is a period of a person's development and transition to adulthood. One of the most important tasks of that period is development of a healthy self-image. Social networks are a ubiquitous part of today and a way for many adolescents to spend their free time. The main goal of the research was to examine the characteristics of adolescents' self-esteem. The paper problematizes the relationship between self-esteem and social networks and the relationship between self-esteem and socio-demographic characteristics with an emphasis on risky behavior. The research was conducted in December 2021 in Zagreb with a survey questionnaire prepared for the purposes of the paper. It was conducted on a sample of 368 respondents (49.7% male, 48.1% female and 2.2% of others who did not indicate gender). The respondents were students aged 12 to 17, ie students of the seventh (25%) and eighth grade (21.5%) of three primary schools and students of the first (26.1%) and second grade (27.4%) of one high school in the city of Zagreb. Research has found that adolescents have a positive self-image. It was also found that, given the socio-demographic characteristics (gender, class), they have different habits and behaviors on social networks, as well as that adolescents who use social networks more report lower self-esteem. The results of the research pointed out the importance and future of media education and the importance of organizing the free time of young people. Media education is a tool that would raise awareness of the impact of social networks on the individual, and the organization of leisure time would contribute to the development of a positive slef-image