In order to better understand the extent to which social networks have influenced the lives of young people, this thesis begins with the clarification of the theory related to social networks, then moves on to a historical review of them. Then, it is explained how certain social networks were created and what preceded their development. Accordingly, the next chapter builds on the most used platforms today, and the emphasis will be placed on social networks that are a favourite among young people. Like everything, social networks have their good and bad sides, which are important to point out because they form the basis of an attitude about them. In the next chapter, social networks are considered in the context of children. It goes through possible security risks, explains the increasingly widespread concept of cyberbullying, and presents the data of previous research on the topic of youth and social networks. In this paper, emphasis is placed on the impact of social networks on children's lives. It will be examined at what age they started using them, how often they check their profiles and how much time they spend on them. The aim of the research is to determine whether social networks influence the creation of opinions, views, attitudes, role models and decisions among students. It seeks to examine whether the content shared daily on platforms creates a false impression of a life where everything is easy. At the end, it is examined to what extent networks influence children's perception of themselves.