Alice in wonderland: Adolescents and digital technologies

Abstract

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have considerably impacted on the everyday life of young people. This chapter reviews the various uses that young people make of ICTs, the potential positive and negative consequences of these uses and how to address them, with a focus on how they can be used in the area of adolescents’ health care, prevention, and health promotion. Even though the rates of Internet use are much higher in industrialized context, wireless technology will narrow the technological gap that has long existing between low- and high-income countries. As it is both naïve and impossible to dream of a world without Internet, professionals who work with adolescents, teachers, educators, social workers, lawyers, health professionals, or parents should have a balanced vision of the profits and pitfalls of ICTs. Thus, for many adolescents-and children-access to Internet games, which are enjoyable and stimulate thinking, curiosity, and concentration; Internet represents an outstanding resource in terms of information, provided young people know about the limit of the validity of the resources thus provided. The emergence and now widespread use of tablets and cell phones has created a new environment for the social life of young people, who thus can exchange ideas, experiences, and opinions through blogs, forums, etc. The potential negative effects of Internet should also be kept in mind. Overuse can cause sleep problems, back pain, and addiction linked to online games. In addition, deliberate postings via Internet blogs and social networking Web sites can be used to harm or harass other people (“cyberbullying” and “sexting”). There is also the risk of sexual predators using the Internet and social networks to seduce young people (grooming). Young adolescents should be accompanied in the exploration of Internet use, and older individuals should be educated about the specific risks described above. E-health (for healthcare practice supported by information and communication technology) and M-health (use of mobile information and communication technologies in health care and public health) are recent promising tools that can impact positively on the health of young people. Both have huge potential to improve health through increased access to health-related information; induce healthy behaviors relating to alcohol, drugs, and sexual behavior, or support self-management of diseases such as asthma or diabetes. Such interventions are particularly appealing to young people in easily providing interventions confidentially and with anonymity, 24 h a day, through short written messages, audio, video, graphics, and animation. While it is difficult to predict the future of the use of ICTs by adolescents, adults should make every effort to stress and develop the positive use of ICTs while moderating their potential health compromising aspects.