Page 54 - tmp

The existence of awareness among high-school students about possible (mis)use of
information and communication technologies for the purpose of surveillance and
control

Nikola Stanojčić

Baba Višnjina 22, Belgrade

Introduction Results of the research
This research has led to a number of comclusions. First
In the XXI century, sudden, exponential growth of
information and communication technologies has led to a and foremost, is turned out that awareness about possible
revolution in interpersonal communication. Location loses misuse of information and communication technologies
meaning as a dimension of social interaction, and time indeed exists, but that it is not developed enough, or that it
becomes almost negligible with the existence of a stable is sidelined in the favour of other things, primarily
internet connection. One of the social groups which has permanent connectivity with other people. This brings us
accepted this growth the fastest are young people. to three general conclusions:
However, the development of technology also carries the 1) awareness of possible misuse does not exist, and
increased potential for its misuse. It seems that this individuals behave in accordance with the behaviour of
question has further been actualised after the explosive their peers;
growth of information and communication technologies. 2) awareness of possible misuse exists, but individuals
Simply by using them, people leave a personal, virtually primarily choose to be part of the majority and ignore fears
indellible mark in the digital world. That in itself raises a that their information can be misused, all for the purpose
question: are young people, as a group who have accepted of better permanent connectivity;
technological growth the fastest, aware of the fact that 3) awareness of pobbile misuse exists, and individuals act
those new communication tools can be misused? The goal with caution or even refuse to use certain information and
of this research paper is to try to find an answer to this, and communication technologies, but that leavs them
similar questions, on both empirical and theoretical succeptible to partial marginalisation by their peers;
grounds. The key research question that is being asked In conclusion, the situation with which high-school
throughout this paper is whether young people are ready to students are faced is precarious. Although relatively aware
sacrifice their privacy for the purpose of better permanent of the loss of privacy which is waranted by the use of
connectivity with the rest of the world, and above all, are information and communication technologies, they are
they even aware of such a sacrifice. more inclined to involve those technologies in their daily
lives. Are future generations a society that slowly
gravitates towards the pursuit of better connectivity, and a
Research methodology lesser influence of individuals? Only time will tell. The
purpose of this paper and abstract is to point out this
The research methodology of this paper consists of three phenomenon, and open the door for other research of
equally important parts: theoretical framework, an analysis larger scope and depth.
of the findings of other research papers and personal
qualitative research using the method of in-depth interview
on the population of high/school students. Combining
these three levels of analysis has enabled the authos to
reach a number of conclusions for the purpose of giving
this paper a finishing touch. The author would also like to
add that the research method of interview was chosen
primarily for its depth and possiblity of focusing on details,
which would be left out with the use of, for example, a
questionairre or a survey.