Research on the use of social networks and the Internet is a recent topic of research, framed in the technological advances and its influences on the behaviors of the users. The objective of this symposium is to analyze the psychosocial profile and the implications of the use of social networks in the relation to social and emotional behavior. The first presentation explores the role of personal factors, in particular self-regulation and emotional regulation, in the dependence of the Internet with a sample of 580 adolescents aged between 15 and 18 years from the north of Portugal. The second presentation introduces a study that explores the psychological profile of adolescents who show excessive use of social networks, especially when they perform school tasks, based on a sample of 1,200 students aged between 12 and 18 years from ESO, Bachillerato and Vocational Training. The next communication explores, from the literature review and from a theoretical point of view, the influence of virtual social networks on the emotional behavior of pre-adolescents and adolescents, considering in particular the characteristics of this stage of development. The last communication focuses on college students (n = 515) aged between 18 and 33 years to evaluate the personal factors that mediate social interaction and that may be influencing the use (and abuse) of new technologies in interpersonal relationships. Empirical studies and literature will be analyzed to consider possible educational and preventive interventions. 

Paulo C. Dias, Psychologist, with master degree in Educational Sciences and PhD in Health Psychology. As professor, he is Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Psychology course at the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences of the Catholic University of Portugal and directs the research group regarding Developmental Pathways and Life Context at the Center of Philosophical and Humanistic Studies. Since 2009 has been involved in several National and European funded research in educational field (about plagiarism in secondary schools, project-based learning in secondary schools) and in health and addictions (early detection drug-consumption, alcohol prevention in adolescence, and cannabis prevention). More recently he has been involved in other projects, especially in social networking excessive use. During this period, outputs have been published in national and international journals.