Research Article

The Relationship between Social Media Addiction and Digital Footprint Awareness of Secondary School Students

Number: 30 September 1, 2026
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The Relationship between Social Media Addiction and Digital Footprint Awareness of Secondary School Students

Abstract

This research aims to examine the social media addiction and digital footprint awareness levels of secondary school students, and the relationship between these two variables. The study consisted of 1095 participants studying in secondary schools. Correlational survey model was used. The Personal Information Form, Social Media Addiction Scale for Adolescents, and Digital Footprint Awareness Scale were administered to the participants. In addition to descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, ANOVA, and correlation analyses were conducted. The mean score for the students' social media addiction level was found to be X̅=2.08. While social media addiction levels do not differ significantly according to gender or the type of device they use most often when using social media, they do show significant differences according to internet access, grade level, and average daily social media usage time. The students' mean digital footprint awareness score was calculated as X̅=3.55. While digital footprint awareness did not differ significantly by gender, grade level, or average daily social media usage time. It did differ significantly by internet access and the type of device they use most often when using social media. Correlation results revealed a negative, weak, and significant relationship between social media addiction and digital footprint awareness.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Psychological Counseling Education, Instructional Technologies

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 1, 2026

Submission Date

November 12, 2025

Acceptance Date

August 16, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 30

APA
Kurtbeli, D., & Özüdoğru, G. (2026). The Relationship between Social Media Addiction and Digital Footprint Awareness of Secondary School Students. Journal of Education and Future, 30, 41-52. https://doi.org/10.30786/jef.1821696
AMA
1.Kurtbeli D, Özüdoğru G. The Relationship between Social Media Addiction and Digital Footprint Awareness of Secondary School Students. JEF. 2026;(30):41-52. doi:10.30786/jef.1821696
Chicago
Kurtbeli, Deniz, and Gül Özüdoğru. 2026. “The Relationship Between Social Media Addiction and Digital Footprint Awareness of Secondary School Students”. Journal of Education and Future, nos. 30: 41-52. https://doi.org/10.30786/jef.1821696.
EndNote
Kurtbeli D, Özüdoğru G (September 1, 2026) The Relationship between Social Media Addiction and Digital Footprint Awareness of Secondary School Students. Journal of Education and Future 30 41–52.
IEEE
[1]D. Kurtbeli and G. Özüdoğru, “The Relationship between Social Media Addiction and Digital Footprint Awareness of Secondary School Students”, JEF, no. 30, pp. 41–52, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.30786/jef.1821696.
ISNAD
Kurtbeli, Deniz - Özüdoğru, Gül. “The Relationship Between Social Media Addiction and Digital Footprint Awareness of Secondary School Students”. Journal of Education and Future. 30 (September 1, 2026): 41-52. https://doi.org/10.30786/jef.1821696.
JAMA
1.Kurtbeli D, Özüdoğru G. The Relationship between Social Media Addiction and Digital Footprint Awareness of Secondary School Students. JEF. 2026;:41–52.
MLA
Kurtbeli, Deniz, and Gül Özüdoğru. “The Relationship Between Social Media Addiction and Digital Footprint Awareness of Secondary School Students”. Journal of Education and Future, no. 30, Sept. 2026, pp. 41-52, doi:10.30786/jef.1821696.
Vancouver
1.Deniz Kurtbeli, Gül Özüdoğru. The Relationship between Social Media Addiction and Digital Footprint Awareness of Secondary School Students. JEF. 2026 Sep. 1;(30):41-52. doi:10.30786/jef.1821696

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