Abstract
Nowadays the use of the Internet is so widespread that it becomes reasonable to raise the question of the individual psychological and social consequences of global informatization and computerization. The main issue at the present stage of studying the problem of excessive use of the Internet is the theoretical understanding of the results obtained in the course of applied research, as well as determining further prospects for studying the impact of information and communication technologies on cognitive processes. Today, there is an active introduction of information technologies in many spheres of life, which can lead to an increase and reproduction of the risks of abuse of information and communication gadgets. In order to investigate the influence of social networks on cognitive processes, the authors studied the goals and time spent by students in the network space. The main method of collecting information was the method of observation, survey, and questioning. The study determined the motives and duration of students’ stay on the Internet and the frequency of using social networks. The study showed that there are problems with controlling the time spent on the network, which is not used for educational purposes. Thus, the relevance of the development of useful and productive leisure time has been demonstrated. Addiction to the Internet, in particular on social networks (Instagram, TikTok, Telegram, etc.) is considered in the current context of behavioral dependence on information and communication technologies.