Exploring the risk factors and psychosocial correlates of online risk exposure in early adolescents.

The role of screen media in the lives of adolescents has become increasingly pervasive in recent years, which has raised concerns about the potential consequences of this type of media use. A key mechanism for the impact of screen media use on adolescent well-being and behaviour is exposure to online risks. Several previous studies have explored the relationship between online risk exposure and psychosocial outcomes among children and young people. However, there is a lack of longitudinal research which explores the predictors and outcomes of different types of online risk exposure. Our research sought to address this gap by examining the prevalence of online risk exposure, predictors of exposure, and associations with psychosocial outcomes at age 12, using data from a large, prospective cohort of New Zealand youth (n = 4,467, 44.88% girls). Findings indicated that approximately 60% of the sample had been exposed to at least one type of online risk by the age of 12. The range of risks exposed to included: sexual images, bullying, violence, contact with strangers, peer pressure, accidental spending, and harmful ads. While predictors varied based on the type of risk, daily social media use was found to be a risk factor for all types of online risk exposure. Additionally, online risk exposure was found to be associated with increased anxiety, depression, and impulsivity as well as decreased resilience at age 12, even when controlling for earlier emotional and behavioural difficulties. As the digital world evolves, our findings highlight the importance of considering the ways in which young people are using screen media, to predict and understand its impact.