Dealing with social media fatigue: A focused study on Gen Z

Year 2025, Volume: 28 Issue: 53, 379 - 397, 12.06.2025

Fulya Akbuğa

https://doi.org/10.31795/baunsobed.1518611

Abstract

Social networking sites have emerged as dominant communication tools, offering opportunities for interaction, self-presentation, and leisure, particularly among Generation Z. As the amount of time spent on these platforms continues to increase both globally and within Türkiye, the discussion surrounding social networking sites has expanded to include not only their benefits but also the negative consequences they may have on users. One such adverse effect, often referred to as “social media fatigue,” represents a state of burnout experienced by internet users. The present study seeks to explore the detrimental aspects of social media that contribute to the development of social fatigue in users. To achieve this, in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 university students in Türkiye who are active users of social networking sites. The findings indicate that while the majority of participants reported feeling disengaged from social media interactions and experiencing social media fatigue, they expressed an inability to disconnect due to the anxiety associated with “fear of missing out” (FoMo). Furthermore, social media platforms were found to exacerbate feelings of anxiety in users, stemming from social comparison, information overload, and the prevalence of misinformation. These factors collectively contribute to a sense of fatigue and burnout, particularly within Generation Z. This study highlights the growing need for a deeper understanding of the psychological impacts of social media usage, particularly as they pertain to younger, digitally-native populations.

Keywords

social media, social media fatigue, digital culture, gen z

Sosyal medya yorgunluğu ile baş etmek: Z nesli üzerine bir inceleme

Abstract

Sosyal medya ve sosyal ağ siteleri, özellikle Z Kuşağı için iletişim, kendini tanıtma, vakit geçirme gibi olanaklar sunarak günümüzde başat iletişim araçları arasında yer almaktadır. Sosyal paylaşım siteleri; kullanım süreleri arttıkça, hem Türkiye'de, hem de dünyada, sunduğu fırsatlar kadar kullanıcılar üzerinde yarattığı olumsuz etkilerle de tartışılmaktadır. “Sosyal medya yorgunluğu” olarak bilinen tükenmişlik hissi internet kullanıcıları üzerinde görülen olumsuz etkilerden biridir. Bu çalışma, sosyal medyanın Z Nesline mensup kullanıcılar üzerinde sosyal yorgunluğa yol açabilecek yönlerini ve etkilerini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Araştırma kapsamında, Türkiye’de üniversite öğrencisi ve sosyal paylaşım sitelerinin aktif kullanıcısı olan 20 katılımcı ile derinlemesine görüşmeler yapılmıştır. Sonuçlar, kullanıcıların çoğunluğunun sosyal ağ iletişiminden sıkıldığını ve sosyal ağ yorgunluğu yaşadığını ancak “bir şeyleri kaçırma korkusu” (FoMo) nedeniyle sosyal medyayı kullanmaktan vazgeçemediğini göstermektedir. Sosyal medya araçları aynı zamanda; kullanıcılarda bilgi bombardımanına uğradığı hissini yaratması, sosyal karşılaştırmaya yol açması ve sahte haberlerin yoğunluğu nedeniyle de kaygı yaratmakta, Z kuşağı üzerinde yorgunluk ve tükenmişlik hissine yol açmaktadır.

Keywords

sosyal medya, sosyal medya yorgunluğu, dijital kültür, Z nesli

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