Social Networks and Young: The Effect of the ‘Like’ Option on the Creative Behaviour of Young

Socijalno funkcioniranje današnjih digitalnih domorodaca je nemoguće ukoliko nemaju pristup internetu i društvenim mrežama. Većina današnje omladine koristi Facebook kao jednu od najpopularnijih mreža za socijalnu interakciju s vršnjacima, često i ne shvatajući da je vrijeme koje provode na toj društvenoj mreži i kreativnost koju posvećuju sadržaju koji kreiraju samo roba koja se prodaje. Opciju like na ovoj društvenoj mreži mladi prihvaćaju kao određeni statusni simbol i vrednovanje njihovog statusa u društvu. U radu se proučava sam utjecaj opcije like i njegova simbolička vrijednost koju on predstavlja za današnju omladinu, kao i kreativnost samog sadržaja u cilju skupljanja što više lajkova. Metajezik koji ovaj simbol predstavlja u datim okvirima korištenja prikazan je kroz njegove povijesne početke i prva pojavljivanja, kao i njegova simbolika i sama upotreba u današnjoj digitalnoj sferi, a prije svega način na koji ga razumiju današnji mladi.Social functioning of today’s digital natives is impossible if they do not have access to the Internet and social networks. Most of today’s young people use Facebook, as one of the most popular networks for social interaction with peers, often without realizing that the time they spend on the social network and their creativity that is dedicated to create content are only goods offered for sale. Option “like” on this social network has the special meaning for youth and they accept this option as a certain status symbol and the evaluation of their status in the society. The paper examines the impact of the option “like” and its symbolic value for today’s youth, as well as the creativity of the content in order to gather as much likes. Metalanguage that this symbol represents in the given scope of the use is demonstrated through its historical beginnings and first impressions, as well as its symbolism and the very use in today’s digital sphere, and especially the way in which is understood by today’s youth