Distorted Values, Disturbed Minds? Who Are We Becoming Online? Digital Disorientation and the Quest for Inner Peace

Abstract

In today’s hyper-digital environment, peace can no longer be reduced to the absence of physical conflict–it must also include the preservation of mental clarity, ethical orientation, and emotional stability. The study investigates the phenomenon of digital disorientation in Georgia, where rapid digitization, globalized media flows, and limited media literacy intersect to challenge individuals’ psychological resilience and moral coherence. Drawing on a mixed-methods approach that integrates 180 survey responses and 12 in-depth interviews, the study employs fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fs/QCA) to identify the configurations of digital behavior, emotional stress, and coping strategies that contribute to or protect from the erosion of peace of mind across generations. Findings reveal that high screen time, emotional overwhelm, and value confusion, particularly when combined with weak coping mechanisms, are consistently associated with reduced psychological stability. In contrast, the presence of deliberate coping strategies and a sense of ethical clarity mitigates digital overload, even among high-use individuals. Qualitative insights further highlight generational contrasts in media interpretation, emotional response, and moral negotiation. The research emphasizes the need to reconceptualize peacebuilding for the digital age–repositioning ethical clarity and psychological resilience as essential pillars of 21st-century peacebuilding