Connected Generation

Adolescence and Psychological Suffering Behind Virtual Social Networks

Abstract

Adolescence is recognized as a delicate period in life, particularly regarding mental health, which is increasingly seen as compromised due to the experience of new modes of social interaction. These interactions are marked by the fluidity and transience characteristic of Liquid Modernity, alongside the emerging sense of privacy and the devaluation of the public sphere. These features are mirrored in Virtual Social Networks (VSN), which have produced diverse effects on adolescent development and imposed unattainable standards on their lives. This article presents part of the results from a qualitative research study that aimed to understand the relationship between the use of VSN and the psychological distress of adolescents in contemporary times. Focus groups were conducted with adolescents from a private educational institution in Feira de Santana, Bahia, from which four analytical categories were constructed. In this work, we present the category Psychological Distress, with two subcategories: "Toxicity: Hate Speech, Extremism, Intolerance"; "The Impact of "Perfect" Standards and Absolute Opinions". This study highlights the need for virtual mediation strategies that contribute to socialization and the pursuit of positive benefits, as well as the importance of addressing excesses and risks that lead to intense forms of suffering.