The Development of Aggression in Children and Adolescents in the Digital Era

The digital technology has profoundly transformed the social interaction patterns of children and adolescents, and has also given rise to new forms and developmental pathways of aggression. Issues such as cyberbullying, toxic behaviors, and social media conflicts are increasingly prominent, with aggressive behaviors no longer confined to real life but extending into the virtual world. Problematic internet use (e.g., gaming, short videos, social media, artificial intelligence) and exposure to adverse media factors (e.g., violence, competition) may exert significant effects on various types of aggression. Currently, there is a lack of systematic integration regarding the dynamic trajectories, typological differentiation, and psychological and physiological mechanisms of aggression development in the digital era. Understanding the developmental patterns of aggression in this context, and identifying risk factors and protective mechanisms, has become a critical issue that urgently needs to be addressed in the fields of developmental psychology and mental health.This Research Topic aims to elucidate how the use of digital technology influences the development of aggression among children and adolescents. The objective is to gather cross-disciplinary, multi-method evidence focusing on the developmental patterns and typological characteristics of aggression in the digital era, both online and offline, directed toward others or oneself; and the effect and mechanisms of the quantity and contents of exposure to traditional and emerging digital technologies on aggression. This Research Topic seeks to provide a scientific basis for the development of policies and educational strategies for the prevention and intervention of aggressive behaviors in children and adolescents in the digital era.This Research Topic welcomes manuscripts employing longitudinal designs, neuroimaging, behavioral experiments, and large-scale surveys, as well as cross-cultural comparisons and digital intervention studies. We welcome articles focusing on, but not limited to, the following topics:1. Developmental patterns of aggression in the digital era, including aggression, cyber and real-life bullying, self-harm, etc.2. Online and real-world interventions aimed at reducing aggression, such as social-emotional learning programs, media use restrictions, etc.3. Differentiated effects of violent, competitive, and prosocial game content on various types of aggression and the underlying psychological and physiological mechanisms.4. The direction and mechanisms of the association between internet and screen use and addiction and aggression.5. The impact of short videos, social media, artificial intelligence, etc., on aggressive cognition, emotion, and behavior. Topic editors: Shuai Chen, Yanling Liu, Daniel Tan Lei Shek, Boyu Qiu Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/83394/the-development-of-aggression-in-children-and-adolescents-in-the-digital-era