EVALUATION OF SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LONELINESS: THE CASE OF GENERATION Z'S PROBLEMATIC INSTAGRAM USE

Abstract

Generation Z represents the generation born in the last five years of the twentieth century and the first ten years of the twentieth century. Unlike other generations, this generation grew up in a period when smartphones, tablets and many technological devices reached individual users, and this has led to them being called digital natives. This study aims to examine the behavioral roots of excessive social media use of Generation Z members and its effect on social and emotional loneliness via the Instagram platform. The study was conducted as quantitative research and was conducted using the relational screening method. The study included 292 participants aged 18-24 who had at least one active Instagram account. The participants studied or continued to study at university or equivalent schools. The Instagram Addiction Scale and the Adult Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale were used in the study. Correlation analysis, regression analysis and ANOVA were used in the statistical analysis of the study. As a result of the study, it was determined that there were strong and significant relationships between Instagram addiction and various psychological factors.

Keywords

• Generation Z
• Social Media Addiction
• Instagram Addiction
• Social Loneliness
• Emotional Loneliness

SOSYAL MEDYA BAĞIMLILIĞININ SOSYAL VE DUYGUSAL YALNIZLIK ÇERÇEVESİNDE DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİ: Z KUŞAĞININ PROBLEMLİ INSTAGRAM KULLANIMI ÖRNEĞİ

Abstract

Z kuşağı yirminci yüzyılın son beş yılında yirmi birinci yüzyılın ise ilk on yılında doğan kuşağı temsil etmektedir. Bu kuşak diğer kuşaklardan farklı olarak akıllı telefonlar, tabletler ve birçok teknolojik cihazın bireysel kullanıcıya eriştiği dönemde büyümüş ve bu durum onların dijital yerliler olarak adlandırılmasını beraberinde getirmiştir. Bu çalışma Z Kuşağı üyelerinin aşırı sosyal medya kullanımının davranışsal kökenlerini ve bunun sosyal ve duygusal yalnızlık üzerindeki etkisini Instagram platformu üzerinden incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Çalışma nicel bir araştırma olarak gerçekleştirilmiş ve ilişkisel tarama yöntemi ile yürütülmüştür. Çalışmaya en az bir aktif Instagram hesabı olan 18-24 yaş arası 292 katılımcı dahil edilmiştir. Katılımcılar üniversite ve dengi okullarda okumuş ya da okumaya devam etmektedir. Çalışmada Instagram Bağımlılık Ölçeği ve Yetişkinler İçin Sosyal ve Duygusal Yalnızlık Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Çalışmanın istatistiksel analizinde korelasyon analizi, regresyon analizi ve ANOVA yapılmıştır. Çalışma sonucunda Instagram bağımlılığı ile çeşitli psikolojik faktörler arasında güçlü ve anlamlı ilişkiler olduğu tespit edilmiştir.

Keywords

• Z Kuşağı
• Sosyal Medya Bağımlılığı
• Instagram Bağımlılığı
• Sosyal Yalnızlık
• Duygusal Yalnızlık

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