ONLINE SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR IMPACT ON YOUNG PEOPLE\u27S REAL LIFE SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS

V diplomski nalogi smo obravnavali temo, ki se nanaša na vzpostavljanje in ohranjaje spletnih socialnih odnosov med mladimi ter njihov vpliv na neposredne medosebne odnose mladih. Osredotočili smo se na mlade v najstniških letih, ki so za sodobne načine komuniciranja ter sklepanje in ohranjanje odnosov precej dovzetni. Na podlagi teoretičnih ugotovitev predhodnih raziskav in svoje empirične raziskave smo preverjali, kako so spletna socialna omrežja prepoznavna in uporabljena pri mladih, zakaj jih uporabljajo, kako po njihovem spletna socialna omrežja vplivajo na druženje s prijatelji v živo, na ustvarjanje novih stikov, kakšna je struktura prijateljev na spletnem omrežju v primerjavi s socialno mrežo iz neposrednih stikov, kakšne so prednosti in slabosti spletnih socialnih odnosov ter podobnosti in razlike v primerjavi z neposrednimi medosebnimi odnosi. Obravnavali smo potencialne nevarnosti spletnih socialnih omrežij in kateri so najpogostejši podatki, ki so jih mladi pripravljeni odkriti določeni skupini prijateljev na spletnem socialnem omrežju. Glede na raziskovalna vprašanja smo prišli do zaključkov, da so se na splošno ugotovitve empiričnega dela skladale s prej podanimi teoretičnimi postavkami ter zastavljenimi hipotezami. Ugotovili smo, da mladi spletna socialna omrežja precej dobro poznajo in jih tudi pogosto uporabljajo, kljub temu pa se zavedajo pomena, ki ga ima neposreden stik za kvalitetne medosebne odnose. Ne glede na to, da so spletna socialna omrežja pomemben del njihovega vsakodnevnega navezovanja in ohranjanja stikov, si mladi želijo več druženja v živo s svojimi prijatelji in vrstniki. A vendar rešitev ni preprečitev uporabe spletnih socialnih omrežij, ampak ozaveščena in premišljena uporaba.In this thesis, we discussed a topic that relates to the establishing and maintaining of online social relations between young people and their direct impact on their interpersonal relationships. We focused on young people in their teens, which are quite receptive for the modern methods of communication and for maintaining of these kinds of relationships. Based on theoretical findings of previous studies and our own empirical research, we examined how the online social networks are used by young people, why they use them, and how their online social networks impact their socializing with friends in real life, how they effect their creation of new contacts, what is the structure of friends made over the internet social network in comparison with the social network build through interpersonal contacts, what are the advantages and disadvantages of online social relations and the similarities and differences compared to direct interpersonal relationships. We discussed the potential dangers of the online social networks and what is the major personal information, which the young people are willing to share with a particular group of online friends. Given the research questions we have come to conclusion, that in general, empirical findings fit with the previously given theore-tical lines and the set hypotheses. We found that the online social networks are quite well known and are also often used by young people however, they are aware of the importance of having direct contact and quality interpersonal relations. Notwithstanding the fact that online social networks are important part of their everyday lives, they crave for more live socializing with other young people, with their friends and peers. The solution is not preventing the use of online social networks, but in more informed and thoughtful use