Sosyal Medya Kullanımı Yaşam Memnuniyetini Etkiler Mi? Türkiye Genelini Kapsayan Bir Araştırma

Abstract

Medyanın bireyler üzerindeki etkisi iletişim tarihi boyunca tartışılmış, bu etkiler güçlü, sınırlı ve tekrar güçlü olmak üzere üç dönemde incelenmiştir. Ancak dijital medya uygulamalarının gelişimiyle enformasyona erişimdeki zaman ve mekân bağlamının ortadan kalkması, bu uygulamaların bireylerin yaşamına nüfuz etme hızı ve yoğunluğunun da artmasına yol açmış ve medya etkisi meselesini yeni bir boyuta taşımıştır. Özellikle sosyal medya uygulamalarını kullanım oranlarındaki artış ve bu uygulamalardan sergilenen yaşam tarzları bireylerin yaşam memnuniyetleri üzerindeki etki meselesini tartışmaya açmıştır. Alan yazını incelendiğinde sosyal medya kullanımı ve yaşam memnuniyeti arasında ilişki olup olmadığı noktasında kesin bir uzlaşıya varılamadığı görülmüştür. Bu nedenle bu iki değişken arasındaki ilişkiye ilişkin net bir sonuca ulaşamadığı ve hala araştırmaya açık bir alan olduğu düşünülmüş ve bu amaçla sorgulamaya açılmıştır. Araştırmanın büyük ölçekli Türkiye örneklemi üzerinden yapılmış güncel bir araştırma olması nedeniyle önemli olduğu düşünülmektedir. Bu kapsamda Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu’nun (TÜİK) “Türkiye İstatistiki Bölge Birimleri Sınıflandırması” Düzey 1’den Türkiye’yi temsil etme kabiliyetine sahip 12 bölgeden 26 ilde yaşayan bireyler üzerinde araştırma yapılmıştır. Anket tekniği kullanılarak yapılan araştırmada toplamda 1010 kişiden veri toplanmıştır. Toplanan veriler SPSS programı kullanılarak, Faktör Analizi, Bağımsız Örneklem T Testi, Tek Yönlü Varyans Analizi (ANOVA) ve Regresyon Analizi’ne tabi tutulmuştur. Analiz sonuçları, sosyal medya kullanım değişkenlerinin yaşam memnuniyetini açıklama düzeyinin düşük olduğunu ortaya koymakta; yaşam memnuniyetinin çok boyutlu faktörlerle ilişkili olduğunu ve medya etkilerinin determinist yaklaşımlarla açıklanamayacak ölçüde bağlamsal bir nitelik taşıdığını göstermektedir.

Keywords

• Dijital İletişim
• Sosyal Medya
• Yaşam Memnuniyeti
• YouTube
• Instagram

Does Social Media Use Influence Life Satisfaction? Evidence From A Nationwide Survey in Türkiye

Abstract

The impact of media on individuals has been debated throughout the history of communication, and these effects have been examined in three distinct periods: Strong, limited, and re-strong. However, the evolution of digital media applications, along with the elimination of time and space constraints in accessing information, has led to an increase in the speed and intensity with which these applications permeate individual lives, taking the issue of media influence to a new level. In particular, the increase in the use of social media applications and the lifestyles exhibited through these applications have brought into question the impact on individuals’ life satisfaction. A review of the literature revealed that no definitive consensus has been reached on whether there is a relationship between social media use and life satisfaction. Therefore, it was determined that the relationship between these two variables remains open to further research, and therefore, it has been explored. The research is considered important because it is a current study conducted on a large-scale Türkiye sample. In this context, a study was conducted on individuals living in 26 provinces from 12 regions representative of Türkiye according to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT) “Türkiye Statistical Regional Units Classification” Level 1. Data were collected from a total of 1010 individuals in the study, which was conducted using a survey technique. The collected data were subjected to Factor Analysis, Independent Samples T-Test, ANOVA and Regression Analysis using SPSS. The analysis results reveal that social media use variables have a low lifetime explanation; they emerge from multifaceted life factors and demonstrate that media effects are contextual in nature to such an extent that they cannot be explained by deterministic approaches.

Keywords

• Digital Communication
• Social Media
• Life Satisfaction
• YouTube
• Instagram

References

1. Akın, A., & Yalnız, A. (2015). Turkish version of contentment with life scale (class): The study of validity and reliability. Electronic Journal of Social Sciences, 14(54), 95-102. http://dx.doi.org/10.17755/esosder.68461
2. Akkaş, C. & Turan, A. H. (2024). Social network use and life satisfaction: A systematic review. Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 28(3), 231-251. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-03-2023-0037
3. Balcı, Ş., & Kaya, E. (2021). The Effectiveness of perceived social support in social media on life satisfaction: University youth research. Akdeniz University Journal of Communication Faculty, 36, 47-71. https://doi.org/10.31123/akil.988521
4. DateReportal. (2024). Digital 2024: Türkiye. Retrieved February 23, 2025, from https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2024-turkey
5. Doyaroğlu, Ş., & Noyan, C. O. (2023). Investigation of the relationship between social media use and life satisfaction level. Current Addiction Research, 7(2), 5-17. https://doi.org/10.32739/car.2023.7.2.217
6. Ergül, E. (2024). New intermediaries in the formation of tastes in the digital communication age: Research on the impact of influencers on individuals’ tastes. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation), Sakarya University Institute of Social Sciences. https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/tezSorguSonucYeni.jsp
7. Fuchs, C. (2020). Social media: A critical introduction (D. Saraçoğlu & İ. Kalaycı, Trans.). Notabene Publications.
8. Gaia, A., Sala, E., & Cerati, G. (2020). Social networking sites use and life satisfaction: A quantitative study on older people living in europe. European Societies, 23(1), 98-118. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616696.2020.1762910

9. Goffman, E. (2014). Presentation of the self in daily life (B. Çezar, Trans.). Metis Publications.
10. Göka, E. (2017). Internet and our psychology. Kapı Publications.
11. Gökaliler, E., & Saatcıoğlu. E. (2022). Investigation of luxury brand content produced by social media influencers in the context of parasocial interaction theory. Intermedia International E-Journal, 9(17), 137-153. https://doi.org/10.56133/intermedia.1098410
12. Gölcü, A., Balcı, Ş., & Arsal-Gölcü, A. (2019). Is there a connection between social media use and self-concealment and life satisfaction?. Afyon Kocatepe University Journal of Social Sciences, 21(1), 173-190. https://doi.org/10.32709/akusosbil.511318
13. Guven, A. 2019. Relationship between social media use, self-esteem,and satisfaction with life. (Unpublished master’s thesis). Graduate School of the University of Alabama. https://ir.ua.edu/items/95a614f5-ebd9-44e0-a6ea-b3231ea28eb6
14. Güler, P. (2021). Presentation of self and perception of ideal life in Goffman: A study on instagram in the pandemic era. Maltepe University Journal of Faculty of Communication, 8, 169-182.
15. Hawi, N.. S., & Samaha, M. (2016). The relations among social media addiction, self-esteem, and life satisfaction in university students. Social Science Computer Review, 35(5), 576-586. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894439316660340
16. Instagram. Retrieved February 19, 2025, from https://about.instagram.com/
17. Kalafat-Çat, A., Koçak, M. C., & Toprak, Ö. (2021). Field research on the effect of social media addiction level on life satisfaction. Journal of Communication Theory and Research, 2021(56),185-202. https://doi.org/10.47998/ikad.999223
18. Karaca, Ş. (2021). Investigation of social media use motivations in terms of personality traits and life satisfaction. Journal of Management and Economics, 28(1), 205-226. https://doi.org/10.18657/yonveek.763305
19. Longstreet, P., & Brooks, S. (2017). Life satisfaction: A key to managing ınternet & social media addiction. Journal of Technology in Society, 50, 73-75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2017.05.003
20. Meltwater. 2024 Global Digital Report. Retrieved February 3, 2025 from https://www.meltwater.com/en/global-digital-trends
21. Postman, N. (2006). Technopoly: the new world order. (M. E. Yılmaz, Trans.). Paradigma Publishing.
22. Raza, S. A., Qazi, W., Umer, B., & Khan, K. A. (2020). Influence of social networking sites on life satisfaction among university students: a mediating role of social benefit and social overload. Health Education, 120(2), 141-164. https://doi.org/10.1108/HE-07-2019-0034
23. Sharma, P. (2008). Characteristics of web 2.0 technology. Retrieved February 13, 2025 from https://www.techpluto.com/web-20-services/
24. Sigeze, Ç. (2020). The relationship between social media use and life satisfaction of university students in Adana province. Journal of Communication Theory and Research, (52), 136-149. https://doi.org/10.47998/ikad.818365
25. Şekercioğlu, G. (2022). Classification of scientific research. Retrieved September 27, 2024 from https://igdirarge.meb.gov.tr/meb_iys_dosyalar/2022_03/11133234_04_ARASTIRMALARIN_SINIFLANDIRILMASI.pdf
26. TURKSTAT. (2024). Household information technologies (it) usage survey, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2025 from https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Hanehalki-Bilisim-Teknolojileri-(IT)-Kullanlanim-Arastirmasi-2024-53492
27. YouTube. Retrieved February 19, 2025 from https://www.youtube.com/howyoutubeworks/
28. We Are Social. (2024). Digital 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2025 from https://wearesocial.com/uk/blog/2024/01/digital-2024/