THE MASS MADIA INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE SELF-PERCEPTION OF SOCIAL STATUS BY MODERN YOUTH AS AN ELEMENT OF PREVENTION OF ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR

Abstract

The article carries out a theoretical and empirical analysis of the problem of the influence of social networks on the selfperception of the social status of modern youth. The relevance of the study is due to the rapid digitalization of society, in which social networks have been transformed from a communication tool into a leading factor in socialization and identity formation. It is substantiated that the virtual space has an ambivalent nature: on the one hand, it satisfies the needs for belonging and self-expression, and on the other hand, it creates risks for mental health through the broadcast of unrealistic standards of success ("successful success") and distortion of the "self-concept". The purpose of the work was to study the relationship between the level of dependence on social networks and satisfaction with the social status of young people. The empirical study was conducted on a sample of 40 respondents using standardized psychodiagnostic methods: "Methods for diagnosing the level of social frustration" (L. Wasserman) and "Bergen Scale of Social Media Addiction" (BSMAS). Methods of mathematical statistics (Pearson correlation analysis) are applied to establish the strength and direction of the relationship between the variables under study. The results of the diagnostics showed alarming trends: 30% of respondents found a high level of risk of Internet addiction, and more than half of the sample (55%) showed signs of social frustration of varying severity. This indicates the prevalence of intrapersonal conflicts among young people associated with the discrepancy between the desired and real social position. The key result of the study was statistical confirmation of the presence of a noticeable direct correlation (r = 0.525) between the level of addiction from social networks and the level of social frustration. It has been proven that excessive involvement in the consumption of virtual content activates the mechanism of "upward social comparison", when young people compare their daily lives with idealized "façade" images of other users. Such a comparison leads to the devaluation of one's own real achievements, a decrease in self-esteem and an increase in anxiety. Based on the data obtained, the main psychological targets for preventive work with young people are outlined. It is emphasized that reducing the level of social tension is possible through the formation of digital hygiene skills, the development of critical thinking (media literacy) and awareness of the difference between virtual self-presentation and real life. Prospects for further research in the context of studying gender features of digital socialization and the influence of various types of content on individual self-esteem have been identified.