Cyber Socialization of Russian Youth: Risks of Professional Self-determination

Abstract

This study examined the role of cyber socialization in various kinds of professional choices (field, profession, job, university). The sample consisted of 605 employed individuals, 181 males and 424 females, who graduated from university in the period from 2003 to 2017. We used the «Utrecht work engagement scale (UWES)» and a biographical questionnaire to assess the correctness and stability of professional choice, the importance and effectiveness of cyber technologies in it. The results of ANOVA showed that the graduation time factor increased the role of cyber socialization in professional self-determination but the efficiency of the appropriate application of cyber technologies remains insufficient in many aspects. For example, the cyber technologies importance factor increases the correctness of the university choice but reduces work absorption, a professional motivation indicator; in the group with high cyber technologies importance, the time factor increases the correctness of the job choice but reduces the correctness and stability of professional choice. Thus, cyber socialization gives certain advantages in matters of professional self-determination but does not overcome emerging negative trends which results in new risks associated with the fact that the widespread use of cyber technologies does not always help to make a correct and sustainable professional choice. Keywords—cyber socialization, cyber technologies, youth, professional self-determination, professional choice, psychology