The Stellae research group, together with the Crie and Edullab groups, has just published the guide “Between Opportunity and Prohibition: Risks and Misuse of Technology in Adolescence”, an educational resource aimed at secondary school students that seeks to promote a responsible, critical, and safe use of digital technologies.
The publication, available for free online download, is part of the research project “Digital Teaching Materials in Compulsory Secondary Education: Analysis and Proposals for Their Educational and Socio-Family Use” (Secundari@ Dixit@l, PID2022-137366OB-I00. Principal Investigators: Jesús Rodríguez Rodríguez and Diana Marín Suelves), in which research groups from the University of Santiago de Compostela, the University of Valencia, and the University of La Laguna are participating.
The guide has initially been published in Galician, Valencian, and Spanish, and its publication in English and Portuguese is planned in order to broaden its educational reach and impact internationally.
A practical resource for students’ digital lives
The guide addresses in a clear and accessible way the main risks associated with the use of technology during adolescence, combining explanations with real-life situations presented in a visual format. Among the topics covered are cyberbullying, overexposure on social media, access to inappropriate content, the use of artificial intelligence, and the risks associated with video games and online shopping.
According to the guide, its purpose is “to help young people make more responsible decisions in their use of technology”, while also offering practical recommendations for both personal and educational settings.
The document is structured into several sections that include:
- Everyday situations in personal and school contexts
- Recommendations for adolescents
- Additional resources and supplementary information
- A self-assessment questionnaire on digital habits
An educational approach based on awareness
Far from proposing a ban on technology use, the guide advocates a balanced approach that combines opportunities and risks, promoting critical thinking and digital well-being. As highlighted in the document, the responsible use of technology is a shared responsibility among adolescents, families, educational institutions, and public organizations.
The publication aims to contribute to the transfer of scientific knowledge to society by providing useful tools for digital education in a context in which technology forms an essential part of young people’s everyday lives.
Access to the guide
The guide can be downloaded free of charge in Galician through the following link: https://hdl.handle.net/10347/46824 and in Spanish here: https://hdl.handle.net/10550/125377
