A Cátedra UNESCO de Juventude, Educação e Sociedade acolheu e desenvolveu uma pesquisa internacional envolvendo pesquisadores(as) de universidades do Brasil, Portugal e Rússia. A investigação teve como objetivo geral examinar os impactos dos usos de mídias sociais e da dependência em relação a estas em face do bem-estar e do cyberbullying. Como potenciais mediadores, foram analisados o meio social em que se encontram os adolescentes, bem como a autoestima dos adolescentes, além da influência dos relacionamentos entre colegas na prevenção ou incentivo ao cyberbullying.

Citação: GOMES, Candio Alberto.; SOUSA, Carlos Ângelo de Menezes; CALIMAN, Geraldo.; HOLANDA, Patrícia.Helena Carvalho; VERAKSA, Aleksander. Adolescents and technologies: walking the tightrope. Ensaio: Avaliação e Políticas Públicas em Educação, Rio de Janeiro, v. 34, n. 130, p. 1-22, jan./mar. 2026, e0265330. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-40362026003405330.

ABSTRACT:
This survey study explores the impact of social media usage and its ensuing addiction on the well-being of adolescents aged 13 to 18 in Brazil, as well as their practice of cyberbullying. As a component of a comprehensive international survey, a questionnaire was administered to a convenience sampling of students enrolled in public and private educational institutions. The results indicate that adolescents use social media extensively and for long periods of time. A significant group of them are negatively impacted in their study and work activities. Addiction affects a significant proportion, and deprivation causes malaise. The internet has emerged as a platform for the perpetration of cyberbullying by a substantial proportion of teenage users. Thus, in combination with peer pressure, the Internet is a powerful competitor to institutions such as school and family in the area of Education. However, a small proportion of parents and guardians are involved in guiding or controlling social media use.