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Manifestations of escapism among young people. Education & Pedagogy Journal. 2025;3(15):58-68. DOI:

This article explores the phenomenon of Escapism and examines its primary characteristics. It highlights the ambivalent and complex nature of Escapism and emphasizes its social, cultural, and psychological roots. The study examines the meaning of Escapism in real and virtual contexts. It argues that the life of a modern individual, especially a young person, unfolds in two parallel worlds – the real and the virtual – resulting in conflicting perceptions and ambiguous consequences for personal development and social interaction. It is noted that Escapism, as a way of living, thinking, and behaving socially, has occurred throughout human history and has been shaped by specific historical and cultural contexts. Both the real and virtual worlds have a complex and ambivalent influence on the cognitive abilities and behavioral strategies of adolescents and young people. The article explores the differences between Escapism in real and virtual environments, highlighting both the positive and negative aspects inherent in each of these worlds. Excessive immersion in the Internet and social media can lead to a decline in critical thinking and an inadequate awareness of events in the real world. The increasing complexity and uncertainty of modern life encourage individuals to seek solace in virtual environments full of illusions, which is very attractive to young people. For many young people, existence in such environments is becoming a mass trend and a core value. It is emphasized that virtual environments offer a way to escape the negative and traumatic aspects of real life that many teenagers and young adults do not want to accept. It is concluded that intense engagement in a virtual world, especially when accompanied by digital addiction, brings with it a variety of risks associated with Escapism. One of the most critical manifestations is loneliness, which becomes a seemingly convenient and effective survival strategy.

Keywords: Generation Z, social media, hybrid existence, Escapism in the real world, virtual Escapism, digital addiction, loneliness, illusion