Influencia de las redes sociales en la violencia escolar desde la convivencia en las prácticas profesionales

Abstract

This article seeks to analyze how social networks, as new forms of communication, influence school violence. The study focuses specifically on experiences observed during Professional Practices in educational institutions in the San Antonio de Coro parish, Falcón State (Venezuela). A descriptive methodological approach and a cross-sectional field study were used. The sample included three (3) professors from the Professional Practices Department of UNEFM and ninety-three (93) students from three different educational institutions. Direct observation and informal interviews were used during academic advising visits. The findings and identified risks highlight that, although social networks facilitate global communication and access to information, their inappropriate use has generated "parallel lives" where virtual interaction differs from physical interaction. Critical risks are identified: Cyberbullying: Dissemination of insults, photos, and threats that harm the integrity of the minor. Sexting and Happy Slapping: Sending sexual content and recording/disseminating real physical assaults to gain digital notoriety. Normalization of violence: A loss of values is observed, where adolescents normalize aggressive comments and the creation of fake profiles to attack peers. Psychological consequences: Students exhibit anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances due to excessive use, and, in severe cases, school dropout or suicidal thoughts. In conclusion and recommendations, technology presents a double-edged sword: Social networks are valuable educational tools for teachers, but they require constant supervision.