| Description |
Currently, the Internet is used by about half of the population of the Czech Republic, whereas the highest Internet penetration has been found among adolescents (88% of those aged between 12 and 15 years) and university graduates (76%). Nevertheless, the differences in using this medium, from the point of view of age, education or income, are decreasing. The Internet is no longer considered as a working tool only, since it is a place where people search for and enter into friendships and even partnerships. Furthermore, they often search for entertainment, discussing various hobbies, playing online games, downloading new music, etc. Alongside its mass use, the Internet is also becoming a research subject in social sciences, such as psychology, sociology, media studies, or political science. In course of carrying out research into the “psychology of the Internet” or particularities of human behaviour on the Internet, it has been found out how many questions and issues are opening up when examining people through this medium. After all, almost each human activity has its image on the Internet, which has been modified in a certain way, therefore providing plenty of possible research topics. In essence, the research into psychological phenomena originating in the virtual world is still at the beginning, leaving a lot of space for creative ideas and developing theories. In my paper, I intend to offer a basic outline of research directions covering human behaviour and communication on the Internet, also presenting some results from existing empirical studies carried out in the Czech Republic. Among the presented topics, there are virtual communication, online relationships, sexuality on the Internet, virtual identities, online games, Internet counselling, or Internet addiction issues. In the light of the existing surveys, the discussions concerning the above mentioned topics will include possible benefits and risks the Internet represents for humans in the corresponding context.
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