THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE FORMATION OF A RESPONSIBLE ATTITUDE TOWARDS HEALTH IN ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

Adolescents who are at a certain stage of social and psychophysical development have different social identities, which, in combination with individual experience, affects the ability to search for and access information of various content. Adolescence is a period of active formation of value orientations and behavioral practices. Social media have a significant impact on the formation of a responsible attitude towards one’s own health in adolescents and are a powerful tool for influencing adolescents’ attitudes towards health, which can both support healthy behavior and health preservation, and provoke destructive behavior. In the article, the authors distinguish approaches to defining social media (technological, sociological, communication, multimedia) and determine the impact of social media on the formation of a responsible attitude towards one’s own health in adolescents. They also note the importance of introducing sexual education programs in educational institutions, creating educational projects, and developing a health-preserving educational environment. The authors have identified the components of the formation of a responsible attitude towards one’s own health in adolescents, taking into account the presence of social media in their lives. The features of the implementation of the social and pedagogical activities of a social worker in an educational institution in the context of forming a responsible attitude towards one’s own health in adolescents and increasing the positive potential of social media, through the development of media literacy among adolescents, conducting active educational activities in social networks, and integrating digital innovations into the activities of social workers, in order to create a safe information environment, are emphasized.