Attitudes towards Cyberspace in Youth Education – Selected Problem Areas – Quantitative Research

Aim. The main objective of the presented study is to show the authors the extent of the influence of the virtual e-learning space on young people, on the basis of which they determine the attitudes of primary and secondary school students. Methods. In the work, the authors used the analytical-synthetic and comparative method of data collection, in quantitative research (using a five-point Likert scale) among young students they used Pearson's chi-square to verify the hypotheses. The research sample of respondents was 217 and the distribution of respondents based on attendance at primary or secondary school was proportional. Results. Younger primary school students are more likely to agree with the opinion that the virtual e-learning environment affects their feelings, thinking and experiencing the lesson. By examining the degree of influence of social virtual networks over traditional leisure time with family, we found that virtual networks negatively affect the emotional intelligence of Generation Z students. In addition, various characteristics were discovered that influence the digital resilience of adolescents, including gender, family residence, whether there are only children in school, grade, number of digital devices used per week, and length of hours spent online per day. Conclusion. Currently, cyberspace is full of risks such as phishing, malware, data leaks, and more. On the other hand, it also offers numerous opportunities such as digital commerce, communication, and innovation. It is important to have the knowledge and tools to protect against threats and take advantage of the benefits that this space provides.