Consequences and risks of introducing information technology into the daily social reality of youth

The paper is prepared in a genre of theoretical analysis and focuses on clarification of effects the influence of digitalization of society on the everyday reality surrounding young people. The authors consider the rapid introduction of information technologies into the life of society as a complex and contradictory process, leading not only to the emergence of various new opportunities, but also to a series of remarkable risks. Basing on the analysis of current Russian and foreign scientific literature, the authors seek to clarify the specific features of young people growing up in the context of the progressive digitalization of society, and to identify the most significant risks that appear in the lives of these people due to the high intensity of use of information technologies. Using the data of their theoretical analysis, the authors make a conclusion that growing up in conditions of intensive digitalization of society accustoms young people to active use of these technologies to solve a wide variety of everyday tasks. Analysis of the results of current sociological research leads the authors to the conclusion that such a high intensity of use of information technologies confronts young people with many serious risks, which can be grouped into three types: physiological, psychological, and social ones. The authors describe the specific manifestations of each type of such risks and identify factors of sensitivity of young people to each of them. Trying to refrain from inappropriate technophobia, the authors strive to note the importance of a critical look at the ambiguous consequences of the influence of such risks on the future of young people growing up in the conditions of digitalization of society and try to invite their colleagues for professional discussion and further research on relevant issues.