Enhancing Digital Safety Awareness among Teenagers in South Korea
Keywords:
digital safety, teenagers, South Korea, cybersecurity awareness, online protection, digital literacyAbstract
South Korea has one of the highest internet penetration rates globally, with teenagers representing the most digitally active demographic. This study examines the current state of digital safety awareness among South Korean teenagers and explores effective intervention strategies to enhance their online protection capabilities. Through a mixed-methods approach involving 450 teenagers aged 13-18 from Seoul and Busan, this research investigates cyberbullying experiences, privacy management practices, and exposure to online risks. Results indicate that while 87% of participants demonstrate high digital literacy, only 42% possess adequate digital safety knowledge. The study identifies significant gaps in understanding data privacy, recognizing online manipulation, and responding to cyber threats. Findings suggest that comprehensive digital safety education programs, incorporating peer-led initiatives and parental involvement, significantly improve teenagers' protective behaviors and risk assessment capabilities. Implications for educational policy and digital citizenship programs are discussed.
Downloads
References
Choi, S., & Park, J. (2023). Digital citizenship education in South Korean schools: Current practices and future directions. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 26(3), 215-229. https://doi.org/10.2307/jeductechsoci.26.3.215
Jung, H., Kim, M., & Lee, S. (2024). Evolving cyber threats and adolescent vulnerability: A longitudinal study of South Korean teenagers. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 27(1), 45-58. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2023.0089
Kang, Y., & Lim, J. (2023). Peer influence on digital privacy behaviors among adolescents: A social network analysis. Computers in Human Behavior, 145, 107756. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2023.107756
Kim, D., & Lee, H. (2023). Digital engagement patterns and internet literacy among South Korean youth: A mixed-methods investigation. Asian Journal of Communication, 33(2), 178-195. https://doi.org/10.1080/01292986.2023.2187654
Kim, J., Park, S., & Moon, T. (2023). Parental digital literacy and mediation strategies: Bridging the generational divide in South Korea. Journal of Family Communication, 23(4), 312-328. https://doi.org/10.1080/15267431.2023.2201845
Lee, M., & Choi, K. (2023). Cyberbullying prevalence and psychological impacts among South Korean adolescents: A national survey. Journal of Adolescent Health, 72(5), 745-752. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.01.023
Lee, S., Kim, H., & Park, J. (2024). Peer-led digital safety education: Effectiveness and implementation challenges in Korean secondary schools. Educational Technology Research and Development, 72(1), 89-107. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-023-10298-5
Moon, D., & Yang, S. (2024). Family communication patterns and adolescent digital safety: The role of active parental mediation. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(2), 234. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21020234
Muhsyanur, M. (2020). Types and trust system based on the ideology of Bugis community culture on local interest values in cenning rara spells. International Journal of Humanity Studies (IJHS), 4(1), 58–68. https://doi.org/https:/doi.org/10.24071/ijhs.v4i1.2652
Muhsyanur, M. (2023). The Bugis People’s Naming System in Bugis Ethnic Tradition. Journal of Language and Literature, 23(1), 67–76. https://doi.org/10.24071/joll.v23i1.5062
Muhsyanur, M., Suharti, S., & Sudikan, S. Y. (2022). Physical representation of female character in children’s novels by children. Diksi, 30(1), 66–73. https://doi.org/10.21831/diksi.v30i1.45663
Muhsyanur, Rahmatullah, A. S., Misnawati, Dumiyati, & Ghufron, S. (2021). The Effectiveness of “Facebook” As Indonesian Language Learning Media for Elementary School Student: Distance Learning Solutions in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Multicultural Education, 7(04), 38–47. https://www.mccaddogap.com/ojs/index.php/me/article/view/8%0Ahttps://www.mccaddogap.com/ojs/index.php/me/article/download/8/10
Mulyana, Y., Akbar, Z., Zainal, H., Jiwantara, F. A., Muhsyanur, Yusriadi, Y., & Bin-Tahir, S. Z. (2021). High domestic violence during the pandemic COVID-19. Proceedings of the International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, 6283–6290. https://doi.org/10.46254/an11.20211059
Oh, J., Lee, K., & Shin, Y. (2023). Digital addiction and online risk behaviors among South Korean adolescents: Psychological correlates and intervention strategies. Addictive Behaviors, 142, 107678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107678
Park, H., Choi, M., & Kim, S. (2024). Digital media consumption patterns and cognitive development in South Korean teenagers: A three-year longitudinal study. Media Psychology, 27(2), 201-219. https://doi.org/10.1080/15213269.2023.2245678
Park, Y., & Song, J. (2024). The relationship between digital safety awareness and mental health outcomes in adolescents: Mediating role of online victimization. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 53(3), 612-627. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-023-01879-4
Shin, N., Lee, J., & Kim, W. (2024). Critical digital literacy and online safety: Developing comprehensive frameworks for adolescent education. Computers & Education, 212, 104985. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2023.104985
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Min-Jae Park, Hyejin Lee (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
