Promoting E-motional Skills in Cyberspace: The Relationship between Cyber-Emotional Skills and Digital Literacy

In today's interconnected digital landscape, navigating emotional content in virtual environments has become as critical as mastering technical skills. The convergence of emotional and digital literacy plays a pivotal role in shaping individual achievement and broader societal outcomes. This study explores how cyber-emotional skills, defined as the ability to manage emotions in digital contexts, contribute to digital literacy. A total of 283 university students from three Turkish institutions, selected through simple random sampling, participated in the study. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis revealed that cyber-emotional skills exert a significant influence on digital literacy, providing new insights into the interplay between emotional competence and digital literacy. These findings suggest that individuals with stronger cyber-emotional skills are better equipped to succeed in digital environments. A comprehensive understanding of how effectively individuals can manage emotions and emotion-related information in a digital environment substantially enhances their awareness of the digital dynamics and their competence in performing digital tasks. This reconceptualizes what it means to be successful in the online world and emphasizes the importance of emotional skills in shaping effective digital education strategies.