"Young people in northern Montenegro use the internet and social networks on a daily basis, but without basic knowledge about digital security, personal data protection and their own rights in the online space, according to a survey conducted by the NGO Multimedia Montenegro (MMNE) among young people in Berane, Mojkovac and Bijelo Polje, which was presented at a press conference today," the NGO points out.
The results of the research were presented by the president of the NGO MMNE Željko Đukić and project assistant Ena Pušija, as part of the project "Click for Youth Safety in the North", which aims to improve digital literacy and youth safety in Bijelo Polje, Berane and Mojkovac.
"The survey included around 180 young people, predominantly high school students, and showed that digital presence is almost complete. As many as 175 respondents use the internet several times a day, which confirms that the digital space has become an integral part of young people's everyday lives," they said in a statement.
They add that the most commonly used platforms are Instagram and TikTok, while the internet is mostly used for entertainment and communication. A significant number of respondents said they also use the internet for information, but to a lesser extent for education or the development of practical skills.
"This usage structure indicates the strong impact of digital platforms on the daily lives of young people, but also the underutilized potential of the internet as a tool for learning and development. The lack of basic safety knowledge among young people, despite the high level of use, is worrying, and the research shows a serious deficit in knowledge about digital safety," they emphasize in the statement.
More than 110 young people admit to sharing personal information online, including phone numbers, photos or other sensitive information, often without a clear awareness of the risks. Additionally, as many as 77 respondents do not know what two-factor authentication is, one of the basic account protection mechanisms, while a significant number of young people use simple or the same passwords on multiple platforms, which further increases the risk of abuse.
This data indicates that young people are entering the digital space without basic protection tools, making them particularly vulnerable.
There is a worrying level of exposure to violence and hate speech. The research showed that digital space is also a place of negative experiences for many young people. As many as 150 respondents stated that they had noticed hate speech on social networks, while a significant number of them had personal experience with insults, harassment or inappropriate content. However, there is generally no reaction to these phenomena – most young people state that in such situations they ignore the problem, do not report it or seek help.
This pattern of behavior indicates a low level of trust in protection mechanisms, but also a lack of knowledge about how to react.
One of the research findings relates to the institutional and social dimension of protection. As many as 137 respondents do not know who to turn to in case of digital violence, which means that more than three quarters of young people do not have basic information about available support mechanisms. At the same time, very few respondents stated that they had ever reported a problem to the relevant institutions or the platforms themselves, which further confirms the passive position of young people in the digital space.
Young people are faced with fake news and disinformation that are present on a daily basis. The digital space in which young people move is additionally burdened with disinformation. Almost all respondents state that they often or occasionally encounter fake news, while more than 100 of them point out that they only partially know how to check the accuracy of information. This means that young people, although aware of the existence of the problem, do not have developed critical thinking skills and source verification, which makes them susceptible to manipulation and the spread of inaccurate information.
One of the key findings of the research is the lack of systematic education. As many as 142 respondents have never received any training in digital security, indicating a serious gap between the needs of young people and the educational content available to them. The knowledge that young people possess is most often the result of independent learning, without structured support from teachers, institutions or organizations.
When asked about the biggest problems on the internet, young people most often singled out the lack of knowledge about digital safety, digital violence and hate speech, addiction to social networks, and the spread of fake news. These responses further confirm the research findings and indicate the need for a comprehensive approach to solving the problems.
Despite the worrying data, the research also records encouraging results. Almost 100 young people expressed their willingness to participate in education, while an additional number of respondents stated that they might be interested, which shows that there is significant potential for improving knowledge. Young people singled out the protection of personal data, digital security, recognizing fake news and responding to digital violence as priority topics.
Commenting on the research results, Željko Đukić pointed out that the data represents a serious warning. "Young people today are constantly online, but they are not safe. They do not have enough knowledge, they do not have the support of the system and often do not know who to turn to. This means that they are practically left to their own devices in the digital space," said Đukić. He added that the problem cannot be solved partially, but requires the involvement of the education system, institutions and the civil sector.
Ena Pušija emphasized that digital literacy must be recognized as a basic competence. "If young people do not know how to protect themselves on the internet, then we are talking about a serious social problem. Digital literacy today is not an add-on, but a necessity. Education must be continuous and accessible to everyone," Pušija said.
