Abstract:

The paper deals with the area of ​​prevention of excessive use of the Internet by students of selected primary and secondary schools. Theoretical background maps the importance of media education in schools, its meaning, goals and concepts that are directly related to the topic. The article points out preventive approaches to Internet addiction in the area of ​​family - parental control, schools with the importance of introducing media education and the public in terms of activities of independent institutions.

The research found that 78% of respondents can connect to the Internet at any time if they are alone at home. One third of respondents confirmed that they were not interested in the pitfalls and risks of using the Internet, and 82% of respondents confirmed that they did not know the website that provided information on prevention. In the article, the author offers recommendations for practice at the level of both primary and secondary as well as tertiary prevention.

At the level of primary prevention, it is the so-called parental intervention - it is the role of parents to be able to guide the child correctly and to be able to determine certain rules in the use of these media or to support him in spending his free time through his interests. At the same time, we consider it important that a mutual relationship based on trust, understanding and mutual respect works.

At the level of secondary prevention, it is the so-called school intervention - at this level we could also talk about prevention by introducing a separate subject of media education in schools. From the point of view of schools, this should be the involvement of classroom teachers, computer science teachers and staff working as advisers in this field. Here we encounter a problem in several schools that they do not have a well-founded worker in the field of prevention. This problem could be solved by a school social worker, but his function is used minimally in Slovakia.

At the level of tertiary prevention, it is the so-called medical intervention - in this case we are talking about specialized counseling provided by experts in several institutional facilities such as the Specialized Medical Institute - Predná Hora, Center for Drug Addiction Treatment - Bratislava, Psychiatric Department of Roosewelt Hospital in Banská Bystrica.

Keywords:

Media education, Media literacy, Non-substance addictions, Primary prevention, Media education projects, Social networks, Internet addiction.