Summary

Social media has revolutionized the way people communicate and interact with each other, and it has also created new opportunities and challenges for businesses and individuals alike. However, with these opportunities come constraints that need to be considered to make the most out of social media.Social media in a professional context has been an integral part of establishment strategies for some years now. Although social media has arrived in nearly every business sector, the implementation alone is no guarantee for its success. Establishment efforts in social media are visible on the Internet through activities on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, blogs and others social media platforms.Using Social media has both constraints and opportunities. News is updated every second and has moved from the newspaper to the 240 letters on Twitter to In shorts. Communication has moved from chatting to using photos and emoticons. Face to Face interactions have long been replaced by social networking applications, to a sort of social displacementOverall, social media offers a variety of opportunities and constraints that must be considered to effectively leverage its power. It is important to have a strategy in place to make the most of social media's potential while also mitigating its risks.

Keywords (separate with commas)

Social media, technology acceptance, etiquette, personality, workplace

Summary

The mental health of adolescents is in the focus of numerous studies, prevention, and treatment programs. However, interventions in the field of mental health for children and young people in the countries of Southeast Europe are still not timely and insufficiently systematic, and the results of their mental health are showing negative trends. The digital world is an indispensable part of the growing up of Generation Z, and research on the relationship between mental health and Internet use shows different results, given that the research designs operationalized this construct in different ways. The presentation will present the findings of national research on randomly selected samples in Croatia (N=2016) and Serbia (N=2095) as part of the wider research project deShame Croatia and deShame Serbia coordinated by the Croatian Safer Internet Center and Croatian and Serbian Center for Missing and exploited children. The results confirmed the expected daily excessive use of the Internet and social networks, but also that more than 40% of students in both countries have 2 or more profiles on social networks that they actively use which could be a sign of the risky interactions. The questions that will be answered during the presentation are: What are the results in the field of mental health and well-being of high-school children in Croatia and Serbia? What is the connection between their mental health and certain characteristics of using the Internet and social networks? And how these findings could be useful to practitioners- social workers in the digital age, in the prevention, detection, and treatment of children in the field of problematic usage of the internet.

Keywords (separate with commas)

sexually risky online communication, self generated sexual material, high school students, deShame Croatia, deShame Serbia

Summary

This scholarly work examines how social media impacts the identity development of young adults, emphasizing the role of online activities in shaping their sense of self. The study highlights that social media provides a platform for adolescents to explore and strengthen their identities through connections with like-minded individuals and reinforcement of their emerging sexual orientation or political beliefs. Such processes of support and mirroring are crucial for achieving individuation and forming a cohesive sense of identity.The research underscores that young adults from marginalized communities engage in similar identity exploration processes as their white peers. To gain deeper insights, the study investigates the sources of information that youth from marginalized communities use to access, construct, and test their identities.Using Critical Race Theory (CRT) as the theoretical framework, the project involves high school students as co-researchers through participatory action research (PAR). This collaboration creates an environment for diverse students from public high schools in Baltimore City, exposing them to advanced research methodologies and post-secondary academia to increase their social capital through mentorship.The primary focus of the study is to explore CRT's central tenets through qualitative inquiry, specifically analyzing a sample of TikTok videos to understand how social media platforms represent broader social discourses concerning race, gender, sexual orientation, and other identities.In conclusion, this research provides valuable insights into how social media influences the identity development of young adults, especially those from marginalized communities. Adopting participatory research methods enriches the understanding of social media's complexities in shaping larger social discourses. The findings underscore the vital role of social media platforms in identity formation and emphasize the significance of empowering young adults from diverse backgrounds in the research process.

Keywords (separate with commas)

\ Critical Race Theory (CRT), participatory action research (PAR), qualitative inquiry, ideologies, pedagogies.

Summary

Actually, this format was planned as a workshop. Unfortunately, we could no longer select this.\ In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, the role of social media has become increasingly influential, shaping various aspects of our lives, including the field of social work. This workshop aims to delve into the intricate relationship between social media and social work, exploring its potential benefits and challenges, and collaboratively devising effective strategies for its optimal utilization.The workshop serves as a platform for participants to collectively examine social media's evolving significance as a space for social work practice and advocacy. By critically evaluating the role of social media, participants will uncover key insights into harnessing its power for professional growth and community engagement. The workshop encapsulates pivotal inquiries that underscore its overarching theme, such as discerning the hurdles and complexities posed by social media for both practitioners and the individuals they serve. Furthermore, it endeavors to decipher methods for harnessing social media as a tool for advancing social work goals and facilitating meaningful change.Recognizing the pressing need for engagement with this contemporary topic, especially within the realm of youth work, the workshop strives to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics between social media and social work. The journey commences with a succinct theoretical foundation, enlightening attendees about the intersection of these two domains. An initial exchange of experiences will foster an environment of collaborative learning, wherein participants can share their existing interactions with social media within their professional or voluntary capacities.By collectively exploring, dissecting, and strategizing, participants will be better equipped to embrace the evolving landscape of social work in the digital age.

Keywords (separate with commas)

social work, social media, Opportunities and Challenges, digital life, youth work, advocy, activism