Youth as Consumers and Evaluators of Information Available on the Internet-What Can Be Done?

Abstract

Ever since the Internet became an inevitable part of everyday life many researches have focused on its effects, especially in children and youth as the most “plastic” age group. COVID-19 pandemic transferred to even greater extent the reality into the virtual realm, again stressing the issue of both short-term and long-term effects. It not only made Internet youth`s primary platform to find educationally relevant information, both also a place to be exposed to various information through social media. Most of this information requires critical processing and analysis, intensive mental effort, and many other cognitive “maneuvers” in order to truly capitalize on the benefits of the Internet in real lives of young people. Broad topics and easily available information create an illusion of knowledge and, even more importantly, understanding of the world. However, often is the processing of this information of more or less quality itself, fast, selective, impulsive, and biased, making it a basis for potentially unconstructive behavior, based on superficial and faulty interpretations. This professional paper analyzes specificities of information processing and conclusion formation, that educators should be aware of in their efforts to develop critical and complex thinking in youth, thus enhancing their unbiased approach to information. Making youth aware of these cognitive “traps” improves their resilience to manipulations that emerge in virtual world.