Cybergossip, cyberaggression, problematic Internet use and family communication

Abstract

Research into risky online behaviour among children and adolescents is on the rise, with more studies being conducted into the factors which can influence this phenomenon, above all in relation to school and family life. In the latter sphere, one relevant factor is the degree of genuine trust children have in their parents when using the Internet. The main objective of this study is to verify the effects of child disclosure about cyberaggression, in addition to the mediating role of problematic Internet use and cybergossip, and the moderating role of gender and age. A total of 866 primary school children (53% girls) between 10 and 13 years old (M=11.21; SD=0.90) were surveyed using self-reporting. The data processing followed a moderated serial mediation model using “Process”. The results revealed the effects of child disclosure about cyberaggression and the mediation of problematic Internet use and cybergossip. Unlike gender, age moderated the effects of the mediation model. The results highlight the need to foster a climate of trust and communication in the family environment to reduce involvement in risky online behaviour, in which children feel understood and supported by their parents, which in turn encourages open communication about Internet use. La investigación sobre ciberconductas de riesgo infantil y juvenil se abre paso con estudios sobre factores que puedan influir en estos fenómenos, entre los que se destacan los relacionados con la convivencia escolar y familiar. En esta última, es relevante el nivel de confianza espontánea del hijo hacia su progenitor en el uso Internet. El objetivo de este trabajo es comprobar el efecto de la revelación filial en la ciberagresión, así como el rol mediador del uso problemático de Internet y el cibercotilleo, y el rol moderador del sexo y la edad. Un total de 866 escolares de primaria (53% chicas) de entre 10 y 13 años (M=11,21; D.T.=0,90) fueron encuestados mediante el uso de autoinformes. El tratamiento de datos siguió un modelo de mediación serial moderada a través de «Process». Los resultados evidenciaron los efectos de la revelación filial sobre la ciberagresión, así como la mediación del uso problemático de Internet y el cibercotilleo. A diferencia del sexo, la edad moderó los efectos del modelo de mediación. Los resultados ponen de manifiesto la necesidad de establecer un clima de confianza y comunicación en el entorno familiar para disminuir la implicación en las ciberconductas de riesgo, donde los menores se sientan comprendidos y apoyados por los progenitores, facilitando la comunicación espontánea sobre el uso de Internet.

Adolescent Involvement in Cybergossip: Influence on Social Adjustment, Bullying and Cyberbullying

“…These results may be explained because a higher and intense use of social networking use and instant messaging leads adolescents to be more involved in risky behaviors (Craig et al, 2020). Although no precise relationship between cybergossip and bullying has been established from the scientific evidence, most virtual relationships that adolescents maintain are with their own classmates, hence the connection between both phenomena among young people who share the same social groups (Romera, Camacho, et al, 2021).…”

“…According to the literature, due to particularities of the social networking site environment and the quality of interactions, cybergossip may imply to online-specific effects on users’ social relationships. Results of the reviewed studies suggest that when communication problems between both the person posting a message and those who reading it arises, it mostly results in increases of other risk behavior such as bullying or cyberbullying (Romera, Camacho, et al, 2021). Therefore, cybergossip can be a tool used by bullies to manipulate information and turn it to a negative use for spreading rumors or other forms of relational aggression (Jacobs et al, 2020; Wargo Aikins et al, 2017).…”

YouTube videos for young children: an exploratory study

“…Thus, a greater number of followers does not necessarily mean a greater number of likes. It is thus important to delve into the content analysis of YouTube channels aimed at children, to reflect on the types of educational strategies that are recommended for the adequate use of these contents, and to promote the involvement of families in teaching their children to manage communication processes and contents they consume in this media sphere (Romera et al, 2021).…”

Adolescents’ Perceptions of Their Problematic Use of ICT: Relationship with Study Time and Academic Performance

“…Nevertheless, not all the agents involved in the process are prepared to exploit, rationally and in a beneficial way, the potential of technological resources. Adolescence is an especially vulnerable stage, in which ICT is used without prior training [15], and almost without family supervision [16,17], which can have undesirable consequences in the school dynamics of puberty [8], as it is proven that a lack of parental control strengthens the tendency to present problematic use of ICT [18].…”