STRENGTHENING MORAL CONSCIOUSNESS AMONG STUDENTS IN THE DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT: ADDRESSING MORAL THREATS AND ENHANCING SOCIAL ACTIVITY THROUGH CYBERSECURITY STRATEGIES
Abstract
The rapid development of digital technologies has significantly transformed students’ learning environments, social interactions, and value formation processes. While digital platforms provide new opportunities for communication and civic engagement, they also expose students to various moral threats, including cyberbullying, misinformation, privacy violations, and unethical online behavior. These challenges necessitate innovative educational strategies that integrate moral education with cybersecurity awareness to foster responsible digital citizenship.
This study aims to examine strategies for strengthening students’ moral consciousness in the digital environment by addressing moral threats and enhancing cybersecurity competence as a means of increasing social activity. A mixed-methods research design was employed, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews conducted among undergraduate students. The findings reveal significant positive relationships between moral consciousness, cybersecurity awareness, and digital social activity, with cybersecurity competence playing a mediating role in transforming ethical awareness into active and socially responsible online participation.
The results highlight the importance of integrating moral education and cybersecurity training within higher education curricula. Such an integrated approach enhances students’ ability to resist harmful digital influences, supports ethical decision-making, and promotes constructive social engagement in digital spaces. The study contributes to the growing body of research on digital ethics and cybersecurity by offering a comprehensive framework for fostering moral consciousness and social activity in the context of digital transformation.
Keywords
moral consciousness; digital environment; cybersecurity awareness; moral threats; social activity; digital citizenship
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