Interpersonal relationships on the internet: Risky actions and the perception of seriousness in adolescence

The use of the Internet and social media by adolescents to socialize with other people entails both potential risks and benefits. But what role is played by the perception of the seriousness of risky actions that adolescents take as part of their interpersonal relationships over the Internet? The aim of this study is to analyze the frequency of risky behaviors on social media and the perception of the seriousness by the adolescent population in their interpersonal relationships. This study considers a sample of 2529 adolescents in Spain, Italy and Greece between the ages of 10 and 17 years. The results indicate that a proportional relationship exists between the increase in age and the performance of risky actions. Girls tend to take fewer risky actions and their perception of the seriousness is greater compared to boys of the same age. The correlational analysis shows that risky actions increase as the perception of seriousness decreases, a trend that persists when controlling for the age variable. Along these lines, it is evident that the perception of seriousness is a variable that plays an important role in the regulation of risky behaviors in adolescents in the digital environment. This finding may be key for digital literacy processes, since it suggests that the educational approaches must focus on strengthening the perception of the seriousness associated with risky actions. This implies promoting the critical analysis of the risky nature of these actions and reflecting on their impact, both on a personal and a community level.