THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE YOUTH'S EXPERIENCE OF GRATITUDE

The use of social media is very popular and for a lot of young people it has become daily routine. While using the Internet young people are exposed to the content which affects their attitudes. In that way mass media are becoming an important educational environment. Therefore, it seems justified to raise the question regarding the impact of social media on the process of forming young people's attitudes. One of the elements relevant to personal and social development is the experience of gratitude and the way to express it. The aim of the research is to show the connection between the use of social media by young people and their perception and experience of gratitude. 200 Polish secondary school students were examined during the research. The author's questionnaire entitled "Youth and gratitude" was used in the research. The initial analysis indicates the significance of time which they spend online and its impact on their experience related to gratitude. Research participants gave examples of various forms of expressing gratitude in media.