Rosario Del Rey

Virtual social networks have become contexts of interaction and development for children and adolescents. Every study on the use of the Internet and, in particular, of social networks, reveals the extent to which these spaces are present in their daily lives. Today, we have a clear understanding of the amount of time they spend on them, the activities they carry out, the relationships they maintain and, in particular, the risks to which they are exposed in terms of content, relationships and the economic sphere. The rapid and profound changes in children’s lifestyles have given rise to considerable concern and a wide-ranging debate about the benefits and harms of using mobile devices. This has led to the banning of their use in schools without the necessary review of the empirical evidence available on the impact they may be having on children’s well-being. Despite the considerable scientific efforts being made to provide useful knowledge, the rapid increase in publications and their inconclusive and even inconsistent results have not offered competent administrations, professionals and families a clear guide on what is best to do for the good development of children and adolescents in this area. Thus, the conference aims to present the results of national and international research on the relationship between the time of use, activities and relationships developed on social networks and the well-being of children. The study we have conducted on the impact of sexting on well-being will be presented. This reveals a continuum of impact depending on the different practices and the conditions in which they are carried out. It will conclude with recommendations that would allow informed decision-making and a clear dissemination among professionals and families so that the actions of socialization agents are as coherent as possible.