Risky Behaviors in Social Media and Metaverse Use during Adolescence

Dear Colleagues,

In the rapidly evolving digital era, the lives of young people are increasingly intertwined with virtual platforms, particularly social media and the nascent metaverse. These environments have become significant in shaping their social interactions and psychological development. They serve as platforms for enhanced interaction, where boundaries of geography and time zones are virtually non-existent, enabling youth to connect and communicate with a global network of peers and cultures.

However, alongside these opportunities, there are significant risks and challenges that are inherent to these digital landscapes. One of the primary concerns is the potential for exposure to harmful content and interactions, such as cyberbullying, online predation, and exposure to inappropriate content. These risks can have lasting impacts on the mental health and well-being of adolescents, contributing to issues such as anxiety, depression, and diminished self-esteem.

Moreover, the immersive nature of the metaverse and the pervasive presence of social media can lead to addictive behaviors and overuse, which may disrupt sleep patterns, academic performance, and real-life social interactions. The boundary-blurring nature of these platforms can lead to a distortion of reality, impacting adolescents' understanding of social norms and expectations.

This Special Issue seeks to explore these multifaceted aspects of adolescent life within the realms of social media and the metaverse. It aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how these digital environments influence young people's psychological development, social behaviors, and mental health. By examining the intricacies of these interactions and their impacts, the edition will offer valuable insights for psychologists, educators, parents, and policymakers.

Dr. Ileana Di Pomponio
Dr. Luca Cerniglia
Dr. Silvia Cimino
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Adolescents is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• social media
• risk factors
• risky behaviors
• metaverse
• metaverse addiction
• web 2.0
• social networks
• virtual world
• adolescence