@article{article_1580069, title={The Challenge of the Young Generation with the Virtual Crowd: True Loneliness}, journal={International Journal of Educational Spectrum}, volume={7}, pages={138–160}, year={2025}, DOI={10.47806/ijesacademic.1580069}, author={Kurt Topraklı, Canan}, keywords={İnternet Bağımlılığı, Genç Nesil, Yalnızlık}, abstract={This article examined the relationship between high school students’ problematic internet use and loneliness levels. Within the scope of the research, the quantitative research method was used to determine the addiction level of the participating high school students and the qualitative research method was used together to examine the relationship between high school students’ problematic internet use and their loneliness in society. In this context, a total of 387 students studying in 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grades in five public high schools in the 2018/2019 academic year in the centre of Kırıkkale province were surveyed. It was determined that 4.9% of the high school students participating in the survey, i.e. 19 students, were problematic internet users. Subsequently, 18 volunteer students were interviewed to examine the relationship between problematic internet use and loneliness. As a result of the interview, it was determined that high school students are not spiritually at peace with themselves; they are shy about expressing themselves in society and hide the time they spend on the Internet and what they do from family and friends. In addition, it was concluded that their problematic internet use negatively affects their family, friends, and relatives’ communication and isolates them from society.}, number={2}, publisher={Hakan ULUM}