Use of Communication and Information Technologies, Psychosocial Wellbeing and Cybersecurity of Users

Dear Colleagues,

Studies on the effects of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on the psychosocial wellbeing of users have focused both on studying how these ICTs can favor the sociability of their users and on analyzing a less benign aspect of these communication technologies: their capacity to generate dependence in users and, in some cases, addiction. Dependence on ICTs may generate undesirable outcomes that can increase the vulnerability of users. This vulnerability may refer to the psychosocial adjustment of users, although it is not the only type of potentially associated vulnerability (e.g., cybervictimization). In this Special Issue, we intend precisely to give visibility to empirical research on the effects of psychological dependence on new technologies and their various effects on the social life and the security of users. Special attention will be given to aspects such as addiction to social communication devices (e.g., smartphones), taking into account their main background at the individual, social, and cultural levels. Empirical research that seeks to link the technological dependence and cybersecurity of users will also be welcome. Papers addressing these topics are invited for this Special Issue, especially those combining a high academic standard coupled with a special emphasis on new methodological approaches (advanced research methods, target and national representative samples, etc.) and theoretical advances consistent with empirical evidence (pioneering empirical studies, empirical evidence of new theoretical approaches, etc.).

Dr. Alberto Urueña López
Dr. Juan Bautista Herrero Olaizola
Guest Editors

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