The Influence of the Virtual Environment on the Process of Socialization of Adolescents

The importance of virtual space in the lives of modern adolescents is substantiated, and key aspects of its infl uence on the socialization of the younger generation are examined. The results of an analysis of scientifi c articles and dissertations are presented, indicating that comprehensive studies revealing the diverse infl uence of the virtual environment on adolescent socialization have not been conducted. The results of the research phase focused on examining its key concepts and categories and identifying the degree of elaboration of the underlying problem are described. The phenomena of “socialization,” “cybersocialization,” and “virtual environment” are characterized. The characteristics of modern adolescent socialization in a virtual environment are revealed, and the factors of its positive and negative impact on the socialization process during adolescence are highlighted. Conclusions are drawn about the dual nature of cyberspace's impact on socialization, the importance of creating safe conditions for the development of social skills in adolescents, and the scientifi c justifi cation for professional support of this process, given the rapid nature of changes in the cyberspace infrastructure.