Echeburúa Enrique, Francisco Javier Labrador Elisardo Becoña (coords.)
Pirámide Publishing
The new information technologies (ICT) have revolutionized the lifestyle of adults: Messenger, mobile phones, social networks (Tuenti or Facebook, etc.). However, the most dramatic change has occurred in young people.The way in which adults have lived through our childhood and adolescence is not like the way young people live now. We were surprised to observe behaviors in young people very different from what we have had.We do not understand that young people spend hours watching television, in front of a computer screen or using a mobile phone, instead of playing with friends in the streets.
New technologies are opening up "digital gaps” in our society, especially among adults and adolescents. Behaviors such as: the obsession to acquire the newest technology, replacement of personal contacts by virtual communication, or the need to be online permanently, have created great alarm, in part aggravated by the lack of criteria about what is normal and what is not.
Many of these behaviors have begun to be considered addictive because it can create dependency, take away freedom, disrupt daily life and limit the social, family or schoolrelationships. What can we do?
This manual discusses the risks of misuse and abuse of ICTs on young people from different points of view, it offers treatment options and emphasizes the preventive aspects at home and school.