THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF ADOLESCENTS AND THE ROLE OF SOCIAL WORK IN THE DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

In this study, the authors analyse the theoretical and practical aspects of the impact of social media on the psycho-emotional state of adolescents, and identify the role of social work in fostering safe digital interaction among young people. The relevance of the study is confirmed by the rapid growth in the use of social networks among adolescents, which, on the one hand, contributes to the expansion of opportunities for social communication and self-realisation, and on the other, may lead to psycho-emotional risks, in particular increased anxiety, emotional instability, addictive behaviour, and manifestations of cyberbullying. The article substantiates the importance of social work in the digital environment as a vital tool for supporting the psychological well-being of adolescents and preventing the negative consequences of social media use. It identifies the pedagogical conditions for the effective training of future social work professionals to work with adolescents in the context of a digitalised society, including the integration of digital and media literacy into the educational process, the development of psychological competence, the use of practice-oriented teaching methods, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the organisation of social and preventive activities in the digital space.