PREVENCIJA ONLINE NASILJA MEĐU MLADIMA: MEDIJSKA I INFORMACIJSKA PISMENOST ILI ZABRANA DRUŠTVENIH MREŽA?
PREVENTION OF ONLINE VIOLENCE AMONG YOUTH: MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY OR SOCIAL NETWORKS BAN?

Summary/Abstract: Social networks represent an important segment of digital life in modern society. As a dominant space for communication and creative expression among young people, social networks are also misused as a means of cyberbullying with serious psychological consequences. In addition, the algorithms of social networks determine the visibility of content according to the criteria of greater interactivity, which contributes to the spread of violent or harmful behavior in the digital space. With the advent of artificial intelligence, new challenges arise, which is why it is important to ensure that timely, informed decisions are made at the institutional level about the most appropriate strategies and regulatory approaches to protect children and youth as particularly vulnerable social groups. In response to social concerns regarding the negative impact of social networks on the safety and development of children and adolescents, there is a noticeable trend at the global level of introducing bans or considering restrictions on the use of social networks by minors. The measures aim, among other things, to abolish the digital channels of cyberbullying and reduce the risks of exposure to inappropriate or harmful content. The psychological well-being of young people and the incentive for live peer socialization are cited as additional arguments. An alternative approach implies continuous education through media and information literacy (MIL) programs aimed at strengthening the digital resilience of young people. The aforementioned programs aim to develop young people's critical understanding of digital media, responsible online behavior and the ability to recognize and react to various forms of digital violence. This paper draws from the two mentioned approaches in an effort to contribute to a better understanding of the effectiveness of regulatory, that is, educational measures in suppressing online violence among young people, as well as reducing potential risks and negative consequences for their mental and physical health. It is based on the analysis of relevant scientific literature and a comparative review of contemporary regulatory and educational approaches to the prevention of online violence among young people. In this context, the question arises to what extent restrictive measures, such as banning social networks, contribute to the reduction of online violence among young people in the long term compared to educational approaches based on the development of media and information literacy.

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