Keywords
Abstract
This article explores the growing influence of digital content creators—such as bloggers and social media influencers—on the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral development of today’s youth. It examines how the constant exposure to curated online lifestyles and commercialized messaging shapes youth identity, values, self-perception, and social habits. Particular attention is paid to the increasing dependency on smartphones and gadgets, which not only changes attention spans and communication patterns but also contributes to addictive behaviors. The article highlights both the risks and potential of digital content, emphasizing the need for critical digital literacy and parental as well as educational intervention in guiding youth through the digital landscape.
References
1. Twenge, J. M. (2017). iGen: Why Today's Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy. Atria Books.
2. Common Sense Media (2022). The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Tweens and Teens.
3. American Academy of Pediatrics (2021). Media and Young Minds: A Clinical Report.
4. Anderson, M., & Jiang, J. (2018). Teens, Social Media & Technology 2018. Pew Research Center.
5. Montag, C., & Walla, P. (2016). Carrying the Smartphone Addiction Phenomenon into the Lab: Cognitive and Emotional Alterations. Frontiers in Psychology.
6. Rideout, V., Fox, S., & Well Being Trust. (2018). Digital Health Practices, Social Media Use, and Mental Well-Being Among Teens and Young Adults in the U.S.
7. UNICEF (2021). Growing Up Online: Addressing the Social Media Influence on Youth.
8. Odgers, C. L., & Jensen, M. R. (2020). Adolescent Mental Health in the Digital Age. Nature Human Behaviour.
9. www.commonsensemedia.org – Reports and resources on youth digital behavior
10. www.unicef.org – Reports on children, media, and mental health