| Abstract [eng] |
Digital technologies and media (DTM) have become a regular part of young people’s everyday life, communication and participation, and are therefore increasingly used in youth work. Although digital youth work is recognised in Lithuania, there is still a lack of empirical data on how youth workers use DTM, what challenges they face and what opportunities they see. The object of the study is the factors that encourage or limit the use of DTM in youth work. The aim of the study is to examine these factors. The thesis analyses digital youth work, the situation in Lithuania and abroad, the Technology Acceptance Model, the purposes of DTM use, youth workers’ competences, challenges and organisational conditions. A quantitative research approach was chosen. Data were collected using an online questionnaire. The study involved 108 specialists working directly with young people. The data were analysed using Microsoft Excel and JASP. Descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha and Spearman’s correlation analysis were applied. The dependent variable was DTM use, constructed from direct youth work functions. The results showed that DTM have become an established part of everyday youth work practice in Lithuania. They are most often used for communication, information sharing, publicity of activities, relationship maintenance and reaching young people who are more difficult to engage. Digital youth work is usually carried out in a blended form, combining face-to-face work with digitally supported activities. Youth workers assess the opportunities of digital youth work and their own digital competences positively, but they also identify a need to improve in content creation, artificial intelligence use, digital youth culture and professional boundaries. Of the five hypotheses, one was confirmed: a more favourable assessment of the opportunities of digital youth work was statistically significantly related to more frequent use of DTM. Digital competences, recognition of risks, personal challenges and organisational challenges were not statistically significantly related to DTM use. The study shows that the key question is not whether youth workers use DTM, but how and under what conditions they are used. Therefore, the further development of digital youth work requires clearer methodological guidelines, organisational rules, data protection and recommendations for the use of AI. |
