Факторы поведения девочек подростков в социальных сетях интернета
ENThe paper focuses on the issue of factors that affect adolescent girls' behaviour on social networking websites. It presents the findings of the qualitative research conducted in 2015 by means of the focus group method. The participants of the qualitative research were 20 girls (four focus groups, with 5 girls in each), 11 to 14 years of age, attending Lithuanian Children's Day Care Centres. As established by the empirical research, the protective factors able to reduce girls' risky behaviour on social networking websites fell into two groups: personality-related (responsibility, control, and the feeling of fear (anxiety)) and environment-related (strong social relations, the impact of the media, and negative peer experience in the virtual space). The factors that promoted girls' risky behaviour in online social networks also fell into two groups: personality-related (lack of awareness, impulsiveness, or personal experience of risky behaviour without negative consequences). The environment-related factors included peer experience of risky behaviour and noncompliance with social needs and expectations. The understanding of the girls' online social networking experience and the revealed factors affecting their behaviour provide prerequisites for further scientific research and for more effective practical educational activities with adolescents.
