Countervalues of the digital ethos perceived by future trainers

The digital ethosphere, as a cultural environment of digital interactions, provides spaces for social and citizen participation where certain values and counter-values are promoted that determine the users’ construction of their personal and cultural identity. The lack of studies that analyze the counter-values immersed in digital interactions and spaces has led to the development of this study, which seeks to analyze the students’ perception of the presence of counter-values on the Internet by examining the social sphere (with classmates, friends or family), the type and the way in which they are transmitted, as well as the associated risks (information or communication) and the resources or applications available. A mixed methodological approach study was designed through an ad-hoc questionnaire that was answered by 305 students from education and teacher training faculties. The results indicated that the majority of students identify the presence of counter-values when using the Internet, highlighting manipulation and violence, followed by lack of respect, inequality, and dishonesty, as well as the risks associated with information and communication, emphasizing the implicit presence of counter-values in the social networks logics and discourses. The conclusions provide evidence on the need to include values education in critical media education, reinforcing the preparation of future teachers who can teach how to deconstruct and eradicate counter-values in the digital sphere.