Digital vulnerability in young people: gender, age and online participation patterns

ABSTRACT

While the Internet is an important social environment, it can also be a devastating place with negative consequences for young people’s psychological well-being. This study examined associations among sociodemographic factors with patterns of participation in online activities such as gambling, betting, online shopping, videogames and eGames. A chi-square-test, Mann-Whitney U-test and multivariate correspondence analysis of an online survey administered to 1500 young people (aged 18 to 35) found gender differences with regard to digital vulnerability. Young women’s digital habits and emotional experience (insecurity, social pressure, helplessness, feeling empty and anxiety) contribute to increased risk. Younger men participate in leisure activities perceived to be less risky (videogames and eGames), while older men have a higher level of participation in activities perceived to be riskier (betting and gambling), which are associated with negative emotions. Younger subjects also experience emotions of insecurity and shame through most of their daily time on social media.

KEYWORDS:

• Digital vulnerability
• young people
• gender
• age
• risks, internet, social media, emotions, media literacy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Institutional review board statement

The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, the ICC/ESOMAR Code for the practice of Social and Market Research in Spain (https://iccwbo.org/publication/codigo-internacional-iccesomar-para-la-practica-de-la-investigacion-social-y-de-mercados/) and Norma ISO-20252.

Informed consent statement

Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the This work was supported by the [The Family Watch Foundation - International Institute for Family Studies] under Grant [number 274-2021]; [Complutense University of Madrid in its Excellence Program for university professors, within the framework of the V PRICIT (V Regional Plan for Scientific Research and Technological Innovation)] This work was supported by the [The Family Watch Foundation - International Institute for Family Studies] [Grant [number 274-2021]]; [Complutense University of Madrid in its Excellence Program for university professors, within the framework of the V PRICIT (V Regional Plan for Scientific Research and Technological Innovation)] .

Notes on contributors

Sonia Carcelén-García

Sonia Carcelén-García. Ph.D. in Advertising and Public Relations from the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM). Professor and researcher in the Marketing Department of the UCM. Her principles lines of research are: in one hand branding and integrated communication and; in the other hand, responsible communication and vulnerable audiences, in particular minors and young people and their vulnerability in the digital environment. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4166-5829

María José Narros-González

María José Narros González. PhD in Economics and Business Administration from the Complutense University of Madrid, Master in Marketing Management. She is a University Lecturer in the Marketing Department of the UCM. She has directed several postgraduate courses on data analysis in Social and Market Research. She is a member of the UCM Research Group “Responsible Communication and Vulnerable Audiences” where she participates in research on the influence of commercial communications on the sexualisation of children, and on online betting and gambling in childhood and adolescence. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1299-1561

María Galmes-Cerezo

María Galmes-Cerezo. Professor and researcher in the Marketing Department of the UCM. Ph.D. in Communication Sciences from Malaga University and a Degree in Advertising and Public Relations from Complutense University of Madrid (UCM). Her principles lines of research are: Communication and experiential marketing and Online gambling marketing strategies and responsible communication for vulnerable audiences. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1520-3703