Information technologies, ICT and Industry 4.0 are developing particularly fast in the fourth technological revolution. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in the scale of digitisation and internationalisation of remote communication processes and various aspects of economic activity. Digitisation of the economy is currently taking place simultaneously in many areas of economic processes and the functioning of many economic entities and public, financial and other institutions. Many companies, enterprises and public institutions that previously operated mostly or solely offline during the pandemic have switched to remote, electronic operation via the Internet. The development of electronic banking is also increasing, including internet and mobile banking. The share of electronic, cashless payments via the Internet and payments with electronic bank cards is increasing. In addition, in recent years, the range of applications of Data Science, Big Data, and Data Analytics technologies in economics, finance and organisation management, including enterprises, financial and public institutions, has been increasing. Therefore, the importance of implementing analytical instruments for advanced processing of large Data Science data sets in enterprises, financial and public institutions is also growing, including the construction of Big Data Analytics platforms to support organisation management processes in various aspects of operations, including improvement relationship with customers. The scale of cybercrime has also increased during the pandemic, as has the importance of improving cybersecurity techniques and instruments.

At the threshold of emerging parallel immersive environments and metaverse worlds, the use of social media to build interpersonal relationships is a common phenomenon. This study aimed to diagnose, describe, and compare the use of social media to build and sustain interpersonal contacts and to refer to the level of interpersonal competences among students of pedagogical courses in two selected universities in Poland and Portugal. The studies were quantitative and employed the Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire by D. Buhrmester, W. Furman, M.T. Wittenberg and H.T. Reis, as well as the author’s own questionnaire. The analyses show that social media play a major role in building interpersonal relationships for Polish and Portuguese students in areas such as establishing new contacts, maintaining offline relationships, mutual learning and self-presentation. Non-face-to-face relations may interfere with establishing contact face to face. The analyses also show that the level of interpersonal competences among the respondents in terms of the skills and readiness to provide emotional support to others is differentiated by the way and scope of social media usage in the area under consideration. It can be assumed that in the group of respondents, the more they are willing and able to provide emotional support to others, the more effective and balanced way they use social media in building interpersonal relationships.

Nowadays, the concept of digital media, is nothing new. The article refers to the conditions of legal change implied by the vast progress and revolutionary digital transformation that has taken place when the media, which are an integral part of the communication process, have entered the realm of image culture, a sphere where they obliterate traditional modes of communication, creating a new sphere of influence, without a clear separation between the sender and the receiver. Hence, digital content has become the basis for the construction of a new system of axiology, so relevant in terms of constitutional values.

Anti-refugee attitudes of social media participants and the goals of intercultural education

The purpose of this article is to present anti-refugee attitudes observed on the Internet which show the influence of virtual space on the formation of opinions on refugees. The data collected during the ethnographic research in the period 2015–2019 concern attitudes, behaviors and narratives negating the reception of refugees from the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the grassroots criticism of Internet users against sheltering refugees in the Polish territories. Social media were shown as a tool for expressing public opposition to the prospect of accepting refugees into Poland. Among the data, there were contents that comprised an indirect or direct negation of the goals of intercultural education. An analysis was conducted of the content posted on the Facebook platform on the website “No to the Islamization of Europe”, the functioning of which focuses on informing and commenting on the events related to the “migration crisis”. The research material includes the data from 2018 – a period when the attention of the creators of this medium focused on the potentially negative consequences of accepting refugees into Europe. The conclusions of the research justify and explain the need for the goals of cultural education, which is shown here as a way to counteract stereotypes.

Off-road culture in the perspective of hybrid functioning

Life in the modern world has shifted to some extent in the functioning of individuals in many areas. This paper focuses mainly on such spheres as communication, tracking and sharing information, and sport-related cultures, which take on a new meaning in the hybrid reality. These fields combine to create and enable a new type of human interaction. Reporting, commenting, or posting information on sports achievements is not a novelty, but currently this state of affairs is significantly gaining in importance and expanding to tracking information about the private life and functioning of people practicing various sports disciplines. Cultures that have developed around various physical activities are much more able to expand and promote a particular sport by publishing information in the digital space. It is particularly important in relation to disciplines that are not popular or are extreme or high-budget sports. Thanks to the presence of these activities in the virtual space, it is possible to promote, disseminate them, and gain a larger group of enthusiasts.

“Sharenting” refers to parents or relatives sharing images/information of young family members on social media, which can negatively affect children. Previous studies lacked standardized measures, except for the Sharenting Evaluation Scale (SES) validated in Spain. This study aimed to validate the SES in an Argentinian sample (255 adults), test its factor structure, and explore associations with sociodemographic factors. Confirmatory Factor Analysis confirmed the model’s adequacy with satisfactory internal consistency, and cross-validation and invariance revealed similar results. Associations were found with age, number of social networks used, and gender. Findings support the use of the SES to assess Sharenting.

After Russia attacked Ukraine in 2022, social media became a key source of information for young people, surpassing traditional media in terms of speed and accessibility. Research shows that platforms such as Telegram, YouTube, and Facebook are most frequently used by Generation Z to follow war events. This article discusses the importance of social media in shaping young people’s opinions about the armed conflict in Ukraine. According to the authors, social media is the main source of information about the surrounding world for the young generation. Therefore, they should be attributed a significant role in Generation Z’s perception of reality.

The war in Ukraine has significantly amplified the impact of fake news, particularly within the socio-economic environment. This misinformation has the potential to exacerbate tensions, manipulate public opinion, and destabilize societies by exploiting the geopolitical complexities and various interests surrounding the conflict. Economic stability, investor confidence, and consumer behavior are especially vulnerable to the influence of false reports, which can provoke market volatility and economic uncertainty. For example, in the energy sector, Ukraine’s role as a key transit route for Russian natural gas to Europe makes it a prime target for fake news, leading to speculation and price spikes that affect global markets. Misinformation also undermines public trust in economic policies and government actions, potentially polarizing society and obstructing essential reforms. Furthermore, fake news complicates international aid and humanitarian efforts by misrepresenting the crisis and hindering effective responses. Addressing in article this issue demands a multi-faceted strategy, including media literacy programs, regulatory measures, technological solutions, and transparent communication channels to ensure reliable information dissemination. Ultimately, combating fake news is crucial for maintaining stability, fostering trust, and supporting peace and prosperity in the region amidst ongoing conflict.

Countering disinformation in social media

The rise of disinformation and fake news in the 21st century significantly impacts society and public debate, creating new threats. The problem intensified on the Internet weakens critical thinking among recipients and makes it difficult to distinguish reliable sources from false information. The anonymity of the web complicates the identification of disinformation authors, hindering legal action. Polish law is not adequately prepared to combat fake news, and penalizing all false content could infringe on constitutional rights and freedoms. Fact-checking organizations, such as Demagog.org, Fakenews.pl, etc., are crucial in verifying information. Initiatives like GovTech Polska and the Code of Good Practices promote education and raise social awareness regarding informational security. Internet giants, including Facebook, Google, TikTok, and X, have committed to fighting disinformation by removing fake accounts and blocking revenue from fake news. The study utilized desk research and case study methods to analyze available secondary materials and perform critical evaluations. The results indicate that adequate source verification, common sense, critical thinking, and fact-checking tools are essential in minimizing the risk of disinformation. Counteracting this phenomenon requires a conscious and responsible approach, systematic content verification, education, and cooperation across various social sectors.

The impact of social media on the perception of the Russia-Ukraine conflict: disinformation as a propaganda tool

Technological development creates opportunities for more effective dissemination of propaganda. The invention and availability of the Internet for commercial use revolutionized the way of communication. The author’s goal is to demonstrate the correlation between actively developed social media and the use of disinformation. Presenting the effects of propaganda activities emphasizes the importance of the initiated initiatives. The starting point for the article is the thesis that social media are an arena in the information warfare of the warring states. The author analyzes disinformation techniques in the text. The key role of social media in the way the conflict is perceived by the international community is specified. The author presents the positive and negative consequences of media activity. The war between Russia and Ukraine was used as a case study to confirm the described claims. The activities of the services of both countries fit into the narrative of conducting disinformation activity. The author showed that along with technological development, new tools are created that are used in the dissemination of propaganda. The most popular platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, are a significant means of gaining knowledge about the international situation and contribute significantly to shaping public opinion. Control of social media translates into real actions in the real world.

From privacy to audience. On the need for media education in the digital age on the example of the sharenting phenomenon

In today’s hybrid reality, in which the online world intersects with the offline world, media education, which includes the ability to use technology in an informed and responsible manner, seems essential. Social media are a source of entertainment, a tool for communication and obtaining information, but they can also create a field for many abuses and threats to our privacy. One social media activity that can have negative consequences, and which exemplifies the growing need to improve media literacy among online users, is sharenting. The phenomenon of sharenting is related to the excessive sharing of photos, videos and information about a child online. Since sharenting is still a relatively new phenomenon, the purpose of the article is to provide an overview of the issue and identify areas for further research. The article will discuss the most important issues related to this phenomenon, such as the motivations behind the excessive publication of information about a child online and the potential consequences of such action.