The Interaction of Digital Technologies with the Development of Cognitive and Communication Processes of Adolescents and Young Adults: a Review of Empirical Research

The article presents an overview of empirical research on the interaction of digital technologies with the development of cognitive and communication processes of adolescents and young adults. The studies are divided into blocks in accordance with the three types of childrens’ activity, such as leisure (including video games), communicative and educational activity – taking the impact of digital technologies into account. Contradictory empirical data are explained by the many limitations that exist for the organization of this type of research. They also do not allow to identify clear causal relationships between the use of digital technologies by adolescents and young adults and the development of their cognitive and communication skills. The analysis of scientific results, studies led to the conclusion that digitalization qualitatively changes development of cognitive and communication processes of adolescents and young adults.

1.Bogacheva N.V. Komp'yuternye igry i psikhologicheskaya spetsifika kognitivnoi sfery geimerov [Computer games and the psychological specificity of the cognitive sphere of gamers]. Vestnik Moskovskogo universiteta [Bulletin of Moscow University]. Seriya 14. Episode 14, 2015, no. 1, pp. 94–103. (In Russ.).

2. Bogomolova M.A., Buzina T.S. Internet-zavisimost': aspekty formirovaniya i vozmozhnosti psikhologicheskoi korrektsii [Internet Addiction: Aspects of Formation and Possibilities of Psychological Correction]. Meditsinskaya psikhologiya v Rossii. [Medical psychology in Russia], 2018. Vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 8–13. DOI:10.24411/2219-8245-2018-12080 (In Russ.).
3. Bol'shakov A.M., Krut'ko V.N., Kutepov E.N., Mamikonova O.A., Potemkina N.S., Rozenblit S.I., Chankov S.V. Informatsionnye nagruzki kak novyi aktual'nyi razdel gigieny detei i podrostkov [Information loads as a new topical section of the hygiene of children and adolescents]. Gigiena i sanitariya [Hygiene and sanitation], 2016. Vol. 95, no. 2, pp. 172–177. (In Russ.).
4. Bukatov V.M. Klipovye izmeneniya v vospriyatii, ponimanii i myshlenii sovremennykh shkol'nikov – dosadnoe novoobrazovanie «postindustrial'nogo uklada» ili dolgozhdannaya reanimatsiya psikhicheskogo estestva? [Clip changes in the perception, understanding and thinking of modern schoolchildren – an unfortunate new formation of the "post-industrial way" or a long-awaited resuscitation of mental nature?]. Aktual'nye problemy psikhologicheskogo znaniya [Actual problems of psychological knowledge], 2018, no. 4, pp. 73–80. (In Russ.).
5. Bek Dzh., Ueid M. Doigralis'! Kak pokolenie geimerov navsegda menyaet biznes-sredu [Finished the game! How a Generation of Gamers Is Changing the Business Environment Forever]. Moscow: Pretekst, 2006. 248 p. (In Russ.).
6. Voiskunskii A.E. Psikhologiya i Internet [Psychology and the Internet]. Moscow: Akropol', 2010. 439 p. (In Russ.).
7. Voiskunskii A.E. Razvivaetsya Li agressivnost' u detei i podrostkov, uvlechennykh komp'yuternymi igrami? [Does aggression develop in children and adolescents who are keen on computer games?]. Voprosy psikhologii [Questions of psychology], 2010, no. 6, pp. 133–143. (In Russ.).
8. Girenok F.I. Klipovoe soznanie [Clip Consciousness]. Moscow: Prospekt, 2018. 254 p. (In Russ.).
9. Glazkov A.V. Vzaimosvyaz' motivatsii i samoregulyatsii podrostkov s uspeshnost'yu distantsionnogo obucheniya [Interrelation of motivation and self-regulation of adolescents with the success of distance learning]. In A.V. Glazkov, A.G. Fedotova (ed.). Problemy teorii i praktiki sovremennoi psikhologii: materialy XX Vserossiiskoi nauchno-prakticheskoi konferentsii s mezhdunarodnym uchastiem [Problems of Theory and Practice of Modern Psychology: Proceedings of the XX All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference with International Participation]. Irkutsk: Publ. IGU, 2021, pp. 412–416. (In Russ.).
10. Grechkina M.E. Fenomen «klipovogo myshleniya» podrostkov v epokhu informatizatsii [The phenomenon of "clip thinking" of adolescents in the era of informatization]. Profilaktika zavisimostei [Addiction Prevention], 2019, no. 3, pp. 107–112. (In Russ.).
11. Dutko Yu.A., Belovol E.V. Osobennosti formirovaniya myshleniya lichnosti v tsifrovoi srede (sravnitel'nyi analiz pokolenii) [Features of the formation of personality thinking in the digital environment (comparative analysis of generations)]. Nauchnyi rezul'tat. Pedagogika i psikhologiya obrazovaniya [Scientific result. Pedagogy and psychology of education], 2020. Vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 78–92. DOI:10.18413/2313-8971-2020-6-1-0-7 (In Russ.).
12. Zair-Bek S.I., Mertsalova T.A., Anchikov K.M. Gotovnost' rossiiskikh shkol i semei k obucheniyu v usloviyakh karantina: otsenka bazovykh pokazatelei [Readiness of Russian schools and families for learning under quarantine: assessment of basic indicators]. Fakty obrazovaniya [Education Facts]. Moscow: NIU VShE, 2020, no. 2, 32 p. (In Russ.).
13. Kamenskaya V.G., Tomanov L.V. Tsifrovye tekhnologii i ikh vliyanie na sotsial'nye i psikhologicheskie kharakteristiki detei i podrostkov [Digital technologies and their impact on the social and psychological characteristics of children and adolescents]. Eksperimental'naya psikhologiya = Experimental psychology, 2022. Vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 139–159. DOI:10.17759/exppsy.2022150109 (In Russ.).
14. Klopotova E.E., Kuznetsova T.Yu. Ispol'zovanie «ser'eznykh» komp'yuternykh igr v obrazovatel'noi rabote s det'mi [The use of "serious" computer games in educational work with children]. Sovremennaya zarubezhnaya psikhologiya = Modern foreign psychology, 2017. Vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 41–45. DOI:10.17759/jmfp.2017060404 (In Russ.).
15. Malygin V.L., Merkur'eva Yu.A., Iskanderova A.B. Osobennosti tsennostnykh orientatsii u podrostkov s internet-zavisimym povedeniem [Peculiarities of Value Orientations in Adolescents with Internet Addict Behavior]. Meditsinskaya psikhologiya v Rossii [Medical psychology in Russia], 2015, no. 4, pp. 1–20. (In Russ.).
16. Palladino L. Maksimal'naya kontsentratsiya. Kak sokhranit' effektivnost' v epokhu klipovogo myshleniya [Maximum concentration. How to maintain efficiency in the era of clip thinking.]. Moscow: Publ. MIF, 2014. 290 p. (In Russ.).
17. Poskakalova T.A., Sorokova M.G. Tsifrovaya sotsializatsiya molodykh vzroslykh: trendy i tendentsii v kommunikatsii [Digital Socialization of Young Adults: Trends and Trends in Communication]. Tsifrovaya gumanitaristika i tekhnologii v obrazovanii (DHTE 2022): sb. statei III Vserossiiskoi nauchno-prakticheskoi konferentsii s mezhdunarodnym uchastiem. 17–18 noyabrya 2022 g. [Digital Humanities and Technology in Education (DHTE 2022): Sat. articles of the III All-Russian scientific-practical conference with international participation. November 17–18, 2022] / Pod red. V.V. Rubtsova, M.G. Sorokovoi, N.P. Radchikovoi. Moscow: Publ. FGBOU VO MGPPU, 2022, pp. 331–343. (In Russ.).
18. Razvarina I.N., Kalachikova O.N. Informatsionno-kommunikatsionnye tekhnologii. Vliyanie na poznavatel'nye protsessy shkol'nikov [Information and communication technologies. Influence on the cognitive processes of schoolchildren]. Society and Security Insights, 2020. Vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 148–163. DOI:10.14258/ssi(2020)4-12 (In Russ.).
19. Robert I.V. Teoriya i metodika informatizatsii obrazovaniya (psikhologo-pedagogicheskii i tekhnologicheskii aspekty) [Theory and methodology of informatization of education (psychological-pedagogical and technological aspects)]. Moscow: Publ. IIO RAO, 2010. 356 p. (In Russ.).
20. Rubtsova O.V. Tsifrovye tekhnologii kak novoe sredstvo oposredovaniya (Chast' pervaya) [Digital technologies as a new means of mediation (Part One)]. Kul'turno-istoricheskaya psikhologiya = Cultural-historical psychology, 2019. Vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 117–124. DOI:10.17759/chp.2019150312 (In Russ.).
21. Rubtsova O.V., Poskakalova T.A., Shiryaeva E.I. Osobennosti povedeniya v virtual'noi srede podrostkov s raznym urovnem sformirovannosti «obraza Ya» [Features of behavior in the virtual environment of adolescents with different levels of formation of the "image of I"]. Psikhologicheskaya nauka i obrazovanie = Psychological Science and Education, 2021. Vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 20–33. DOI:10.17759/pse.2021260402 (In Russ.).
22. Soldatova G.U., Vishneva A.E. Osobennosti razvitiya kognitivnoi sfery u detei s raznoi onlain-aktivnost'yu: est' li zolotaya seredina? [Features of the development of the cognitive sphere in children with different online activities: is there a golden mean?]. Konsul'tativnaya psikhologiya i psikhoterapiya = Counseling psychology and psychotherapy, 2019. Vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 97–118. DOI:10.17759/cpp.2019270307 (In Russ.).
23. Soldatova G.U., Rasskazova E.I., Vishneva A.E., Teslavskaya O.I., Chigar'kova S.V. Rozhdennye tsifrovymi: semeinyi kontekst i kognitivnoe razvitie [Digital Born: Family Context and Cognitive Development]. Moscow: Publ. Akropol', 2022. 356 p. (In Russ.).
24. Soldatova G.U., Teslavskaya O.I. Videoigry, akademicheskaya uspevaemost' i vnimanie: opyt i itogi zarubezhnykh empiricheskikh issledovanii detei i podrostkov [Video games, academic performance and attention: experience and results of foreign empirical studies of children and adolescents]. Sovremennaya zarubezhnaya psikhologiya = Modern foreign psychology, 2017. Vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 21–28. DOI:10.17759/jmfp.2017060402 (In Russ.).
25. Soldatova G.U., Chigar'kova S.V., Dreneva A.A., Koshevaya A.G. Effekt Yuliya Tsezarya: tipy mediamnogozadachnosti u detei i podrostkov [The Julius Caesar Effect: Types of Media Multitasking in Children and Adolescents]. Voprosy psikhologii [Questions of psychology], 2020, no. 4, pp. 54–69. (In Russ.).
26. Soldatova G.U., Chigar'kova S.V., Ilyukhina S.N. Ya-real'noe i Ya-virtual'noe: identifikatsionnye matritsy podrostkov i vzroslykh [I-real and I-virtual: identification matrices of adolescents and adults]. Kul'turno-istoricheskaya psikhologiya = Cultural-historical psychology, 2022. Vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 27–37. DOI:10.17759/chp.2022180403 (In Russ.).
27. Stepanov S.Yu., Ryabova I.V., Gavrilova E.V. Vliyanie tsifrovoi sredy i dopolnitel'nogo obrazovaniya na intellektual'nye i kreativnye sposobnosti shkol'nikov [The influence of the digital environment and additional education on the intellectual and creative abilities of schoolchildren]. Voprosy psikhologii [Questions of psychology], 2021, no. 1, pp. 61–70. (In Russ.).
28. Tikhomirov O.K. Informatsionnyi vek i teoriya L.S. Vygotskogo [The information age and the theory of L.S. Vygotsky]. Psikhologicheskii zhurnal [Psychological journal], 1993, no. 1, pp. 114–119. (In Russ.).
29. Tikhomirov O.K., Lysenko E.E. Psikhologiya komp'yuternoi igry [Psychology of a computer game]. Novye metody i sredstva obucheniya. Vypusk 1. [New methods and means of teaching. Issue 1]. Moscow: Publ. Znanie, 1988, pp. 30–66. (In Russ.).
30. Fedorov V.V. Struktura samoprezentatsii podrostkov v real'nom obshchenii i sotsial'nykh setyakh [The structure of self-presentation of adolescents in real communication and social networks]. Sotsial'naya psikhologiya i obshchestvo = Social psychology and society, 2020. Vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 180–192. DOI:10.17759/sps.2020110111 (In Russ.).
31. Bailey K., West R., Kuffel J. What would my avatar do? Gaming, pathology, and risky decision making. Frontiers in Psychology, 2013. Vol. 4, Art. 609. DOI:10.3389/fpsyg
32. Baker N., Ferszt G., Breines J.G. A Qualitative Study Exploring Female College Students' Instagram Use and Body Image. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 2019, pp. 277–282. DOI:10.1089/cyber.2018.042
33. Barlett C.P., Vowels C.L., Shanteau J. et al. The effect of violent and nonviolent computer games on cognitive performance. Computers in Human Behavior, 2009. Vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 96–102.
34. Beland L., Murphy R.J. Ill Communication: Mobile Phones & Student Performance. London: Publ. London School of Economics and Political Science, 2014. 46 p.
35. Bennett S., Maton K. Beyond the "digital natives" debate: Towards a more nuanced understanding of students' technology experiences. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 2010, no. 26, pp. 321–331.
36. Clark K., Fleck M.S., Mitroff S.R. Enhanced change detection performance reveals improved strategy use in avid action video game players. Acta Psychologica, 2011. Vol. 136, pp. 67–72.
37. Collin S.M., Norris T., Nuevo R., Tilling K., Joinson C., Sterne J.A., Crawley E. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome at Age 16 Years. Pediatrics, 2016. 137 p.
38. Dye M.W.G., Bavelier D. Differential development of visual attention skills in schoolage children. Vision Research, 2010. Vol. 50, pp. 452–459.
39. Geisel O., Lipinski A., Kaess M. Non-Substance Addiction in Childhood and Adolescence – The Internet, Computer Games and Social Media. Dtsch Arztebl Int, 2021, no. 118(1-2), pp. 14–22. DOI:10.3238/arztebl.m2021.0002 URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8119663/ (Accessed 29.01.2023).
40. Gestos M., Smith-Merry J., Campbell A. Representation of Women in Video Games: A Systematic Review of Literature in Consideration of Adult Female Wellbeing. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 2018. Vol. 21, no. 9, pp. 535–541. DOI:10.1089/cyber.2017.0376
41. Greenfield P.M. Technology and Informal Education: What Is Taught, What Is Learned. Science, 2009. Vol. 323, no. 2, pp. 69–71.
42. Kereki F., Paulós I., Manataki A. The “Code Yourself!” and “¡A Programar!” programming MOOC for teenagers: Reflecting on one and a half years of experience'. CLEI Electronic Journal, 2018. Vol. 21, no. 2. DOI:10.19153/cleiej.21.2.9
43. Leonhardt M., Overå S. Are There Differences in Video Gaming and Use of Social Media among Boys and Girls? – A Mixed Methods Approach. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021, no. 18(11). Article ID 6085. DOI:10.3390/ijerph18116085
44. Lieberman D.A. What Can We Learn From Playing Interactive Games? Playing video games: motives, responses, and consequences. Ed. by Vorderer P., Bryant J. Mahwah, NJ: LEA Publ, 2006, pp. 379–398.
45. Luo J., Yeung P.S., Li H. The relationship among media multitasking, academic performance and self-esteem in Chinese adolescents: the cross-lagged panel and mediation analyses. Children and Youth Services Review, 2020. Vol. 117, pp. 1–8. DOI:10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105308
46. 46. Mann R.B., Blumberg F. Adolescents and social media: The effects of frequency of use, self-presentation, social comparison, and self esteem on possible self imagery. Acta Psychologica, 2022. Vol. 228, 103629. DOI:10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103629
47. Marsh T. Serious games continuum: Between games for purpose and experiential environments for purpose. Entertain. Comput., no. 2, pp. 61–68.
48. Rehbein F., Kleimann M. Impact of violent video games on memory consolidation and concentrativeness. Paper presented at the APA Convention, 2009, pp. 17–21.
49. Sawyer B., Rejeski D. Serious Games: Improving Public Policy Through Game-based Learning and Simulation [Electronic resource]. B. Sawyer, D. Rejeski; Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. SCRIBD. 2002. URL: https://ru.scribd.com/document/38259791/Serious-Games-Improving-Public-Policy-through Gamebased-Learning-and-Simulation (Accessed 16.12.2022).
50. Smahel D., Machackova H., Mascheroni G., Dedkova L., Staksrud E., Ólafsson K., Livingstone S., Hasebrink U. Kids Online 2020: Survey results from 19 countries. EU Kids Online, 2020, 156 p. DOI:10.21953/lse.47fdeqj01ofo
51. óth T., Lovászová G. Visual vs. textual programming: a case study on mobile application programming by teenagers. Computer Science, 2021. Vol. 11, pp. 337–347. DOI:10.33543/1101337347
52. Wartberg L., Kammerl R. Empirical Relationships between Problematic Alcohol Use and a Problematic Use of Video Games, Social Media and the Internet and Their Associations to Mental Health in Adolescence. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020, no. 17(17). 11 p. DOI:10.3390/ijerph17176098
53. Wilmer H.H., Sherman L.E., Chein J.M. Smartphones and Cognition: A Review of Research Exploring the Links between Mobile Technology Habits and Cognitive Functioning. Front Psychol, 2017. Vol. 8. 605 p. DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00605