Digital Revolution and Youth

Abstract

The digital revolution, which started in the latter quarter of the 19th century, refers to the shift from mechanical and analog electronic technology to digital technologies, which mostly use the internet. In contrast to traditional media, digital technologies include social and interactive media and allow users to consume and actively create content. Young people's lives are increasingly mediated by digital technologies used both at home and at school. The use of digital media by young people may be adaptive, but it may place their adaptation at risk. Whether media use is adaptive or maladaptive depends on a number of factors, including, among others, the developmental stage of the individual, the type of media, the type of use, the extent of use, and the characteristics of the individual using the media. The place of digital media in young people's lives has never been more prominent than during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this period, their lives were upended, and they turned to digital media for their education, entertainment, information, and social contact. Thus, the study of the effects of the digital revolution on youths' development and education has never been timelier than it is right now. This article introduces the Special Issue on youth in the digital age. It includes six reviews that focus on the affective, cognitive, and social consequences of the digital revolution for young people. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)