Discrimination in the digital age

The experiences of children and adolescents in Costa Rica

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29105/gmjmx23.45-565

Keywords:

Kids Online, digital discrimination, psychological well-being, cluster analysis, Costa Rica

Abstract

The study characterizes experiences of discrimination and offensive treatment in digital and face-to-face contexts among 1,200 children and adolescents, using a secondary analysis of the 2023 Costa Rica Kids Online Survey. Methodologically, a probabilistic cluster analysis (EM-Cluster) was employed to identify risk profiles. Results indicate that two-thirds of participants reported discrimination, with offensive treatment incidents reaching 16% in person and 8% online. A critical cluster (17%) showed high exposure, predominantly composed of females, migrants, and children with disabilities or outside the school system, showing significant mental health issues. Findings link discrimination to intensive, skillful internet use without adult mediation. The study concludes that victimization follows cumulative trajectories, highlighting the urgent need for inclusive policies and digital parenting education that recognize digital environments as spaces of both risk and opportunity for child well-being.

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Author Biographies

Vanessa Smith-Castro, Universidad de Costa Rica

Dr.rer.nat. in Social Psychology from Philipps-Universität Marburg (Germany). She is a full professor at the Institute for Psychological Research of the University of Costa Rica. Her research interests are social cognition, intergroup relations, cultural contact and acculturation, social psychology of health, research methods, and psychometrics.

Eugenia Gallardo-Allen, Universidad de Costa Rica

Eugenia Gallardo-Allen: Bachelor degrees and Masters in Statistics from the University of Costa Rica. I also have a doctorate in Government and Public Policy from the University of Costa Rica. Currently, I am a professor at the School of Statistics at the University of Costa Rica. My fields of interest are: multivariate statistical analysis, educational policy and higher education.

Mauricio Molina-Delgado, Universidad de Costa Rica

Mauricio Molina-Delgado: Licenciatura degree in Statistics and Master's degree in Cognitive Science from the University of Costa Rica. He obtained his doctorate in Psychology from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece). He is a retired professor from the University of Costa Rica, where he taught at the School of Philosophy, the Institute of Psychological Research, and the Center for Neuroscience Research. His areas of interest include cognitive psychology, philosophy of mind, computational modeling of behavior and cognition, quantitative research methods, and data mining.

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Published

2026-07-31

How to Cite

Smith-Castro, V., Gallardo-Allen, E., & Molina-Delgado, M. (2026). Discrimination in the digital age: The experiences of children and adolescents in Costa Rica. Global Media Journal México, 23(45), 45–65. https://doi.org/10.29105/gmjmx23.45-565

Issue

Vol. 23 No. 45 (2026): July - December

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