What makes a difference in social media addiction among university students?

Gizem Nurhan Dağlı; Evren Erzen

doi:10.46778/goputeb.1675630

EN

What makes a difference in social media addiction among university students?

Abstract

This study examines whether university students’ levels of social media addiction differ according to various demographic variables. The sample of the study consists of a total of 998 university students enrolled in different faculties at a university located in a province in the Central Anatolia Region during the 2022–2023 academic year. The ages of the participants range from 17 to 48 years, with a mean age of 22.59 (SD = 3.2). Of the participants, 51.5% were male (n = 514) and 48.5% were female (n = 484). The findings indicate that female students and active social media users are at a higher risk in terms of social media addiction. Similarly, longer time spent on the internet and more frequent access to social media platforms emerge as significant factors that increase addiction levels. In addition, it was found that students enrolled in the Faculty of Education exhibited higher levels of social media addiction compared to students from other faculties, while students from the Faculty of Agriculture demonstrated higher addiction levels only when compared to students from the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences. The findings are discussed in comparison with previous studies in the literature.

Keywords

Demographic Variables , University Students , Social Media Addiction

References

Abazaoğlu, İ. (2014). Dünyada öğretmen yetiştirme programları ve öğretmenlere yönelik mesleki gelişim uygulamaları [Teacher training programs in world and professional development applications for teachers] Turkish Studies, 9(5), 1–46. http://dx.doi.org/10.7827/TurkishStudies.6585
Anderson, K. J. (2001). Internet use among college students: An exploratory study. Journal of the American College Health Association, 50(1), 21–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448480109595707
Arafah, B., & Hasyim, M. (2022). Social media as a gateway to information : Digital literacy on current issues in social media. Webology, 19(1), 2491–2503. https://doi.org/10.14704/WEB/V19I1/WEB19167
Arslan, Ü., Uygur, S. S., & Asıcı, E. (2020). Ergen ve Yetişkin Bilinçli Farkındalık Ölçeği’nin Türkçe versiyonunun geçerlik ve güvenirliği [The validity and reliability of the adolescent and adult mindfulness scale’s Turkish version], 2nd International Educational Research Conference, 123, 336–350. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348014331_Ergen_ve_Yetiskin_Bilicli_Farkindalik_Olceginin_Turkce_Versiyonunun_Gecerlik_Ve_Guvenirligi#fullTextFileContent
Balcı, Ş., & Gölcü, A. (2014). Facebook addiction among university students in Turkey: “Selcuk University Example.” Selçuk Üniversitesi Türkiyat Araştırmaları Dergisi, 1(34), 255–278. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/206806
Balta, Ö. Ç., & Horzum, M. B. (2006). Web tabanlı öğretim ortamındaki öğrencilerin internet bağımlılığını etkileyen faktörler [The factors that affect internet addiction of students in a web based learning environment]. Ankara Üniversitesi Eğitim Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi, 41(1), 187–205. https://doi.org/10.1501/egifak_0000000214
Baş, K., & Diktaş, A. (2020). Sosyal bilgiler öğretmen adaylarının sosyal medya bağımlılığı [Social media dependency of pre-service social studies teachers]. İnönü Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 21(1), 193–207. https://doi.org/10.17679/inuefd.563544
Bilen, K., Ercan, O., & Gülmez, T. (2014). Sosyal ağların kullanım amacı ve benimsenme süreci; Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi örneği [Intended uses and adoption process of social networks; Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University example]. Journal of Research in Education and Teaching, 3(1), 115–123. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/1716219
Bouffard, S., Giglio, D., & Zheng, Z. (2022). Social media and romantic relationship: Excessive social media use leads to relationship conflicts, negative outcomes, and addiction via mediated pathways. Social Science Computer Review, 40(6), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1177/08944393211013566
Çalapkulu, Ç., & Sarı, A. (2022). Bireylerin bağımlı alışkanlıklarında sosyal medya kullanımı. [The use of social media in the dependent habits of individuals]. Gümüşhane Üniversitesi İletişim Fakültesi Elektronik Dergisi, 10(2), 892–914. https://doi.org/10.19145/e-gifder.1109284

Cameron, O. G., & Hill, E. M. (1989). Women and anxiety. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 12(1), 175–186. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0193-953X(18)30459-3
Chugh, P., Sharma, R., & Fahim, T. (2016). Selfie elbow-latest tech injury. International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Research, 4(5), 376–381. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/310620916_Selfie_Elbow-Latest_Tech_Injury#fullTextFileContent
Chukwuere, J., & Chukwuere, P. (2017). The impact of social media on social lifestyle: A case study of university female students. Gender and Behaviour. 15. 9966 - 9981. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323014365_The_impact_of_social_media_on_social_lifestyle_A_case_study_of_university_female_students
Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2005). Research methods in education (5th ed.). Routledge Falmer.
Cuadrado, E., Tabernero, C., Castillo-Mayén, R., Luque, B., & Moreno-Bella, E. (2022). Motives for using social networks ans social network addiction in a time of pandemic. Journal of Psychosocial Resarch on Cyberspace, 16(5), 1–29. https://doi.org/10.5817/CP2022-5-3
Das, B., & Sahoo, J. S. (2011). Social Networking Sites—A Critical Analysis of Its Impact on Personal and Social Life. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 2, 222-229. https://ijbssnet.com/journals/Vol._2_No._14;_July_2011/25.pdf
Davila, J., Hershenberg, R., Feinstein, B. A., Gorman, K., Bhatia, V., & Starr, L. R. (2012). Frequency and quality of social networking among young adults: Associations with depressive symptoms, rumination, and corumination. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 1(2), 72–86. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027512
Dehghani, F., & Mahmoodabadi, H. Z. (2018). The effect of using virtual social networks on depression, anxiety, and stress among young adults. Social Behavior Resarch & Healty, 2(1), 174–180. https://applications.emro.who.int/imemrf/Soc_Behav_Res_Health/Soc_Behav_Res_Health_2018_2_1_174_180.pdf
Deniz, L., & Gürültü, E. (2018). Lise öğrencilerinin sosyal medya bağımlılıkları [High School Students’ Social Media Addiction]. Kastamonu Eğitim Dergisi, 26(2), 355–367. https://doi.org/10.24106/kefdergi.389780
Descutner, C. J., & Thelen, M. H. (1991). Development and validation of a fear-of-intimacy scale. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 3(2), 218–225. https://doi.org/10.1037/1040-3590.3.2.218
Droutman, V., Golub, I., Oganesyan, A., & Read, S. (2018). Development and initial validation of the Adolescent and Adult Mindfulness Scale (AAMS). Personality and Individual Differences, 123, 34–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.10.037
Duman, S. N. (2020). Salgın döneminde gerçekleştirilen uzaktan eğitim sürecinin değerlendirilmesi [Evaluation of the distance education process carried out during the epidemic period]. Milli Eğitim Dergisi, 49(1), 95–112. https://doi.org/10.37669/milliegitim.768887
Eranti, V., & Lonkia, M. (2015). The social significance of the Facebook Like button. International Journal of Special Education, 20(6), 1–14. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277573756_The_social_significance_of_the_Facebook_Like_button
Erdem, A. R. (2011). Eğitim fakültelerinde uygulanan öğretmen yetiştirme programlarının felsefesi [Philosophy of teaching training programmes in education faculties]. Pamukkale Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 9, 89–98. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/411182
Eren, O., Sezer, K. H., & Börklü, R. H. (2018). Reverse engineering design : Industrial design engineering technical elective course for undergraduate students. International Journal of 3D Printing Technologies and Digital Industry, 2(3), 1–11. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/592097
Erikson, E. H. (1976). Reflections on Dr. Borg’s life cycle. Daedalus, 105(2), 1–28.
Eroğlu, O., & Yıldırım, Y. (2017). Sosyal medya ağlarının kullanım amacı ve bağımlılığının uyku kalitesi ile ilişkisinin incelenmesi [Examining the Relationship between the Purpose of Using Social Media Networks Addiction and Sleep Quality]. Türkiye Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 1(1), 1–10. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/394528
Erzen, E., & Odacı, H. (2021). Sosyal medya kullanim bozukluğu ölçeği: Türkçe uyarlama çalışması [Social media use disorder scale: Turkish adaptation study]. Buca Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 51, 520–535. https://doi.org/10.53444/deubefd.776333
Etter, M., & Albu, O. B. (2020). Activists in the dark : Social media algorithms and collective action in two social movement organizations. Organization, 28(1), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350508420961532
Griffiths, M. D. (2000). Internet addiction: Time to be taken seriously? Addiction Research, 8(5), 413–418. https://doi.org/10.3109/16066350009005587
Hazar, M. (2011). Sosyal medya bağımlılığı bir alan çalışması [Social media dependency-filed survey]. İletişim Kuram ve Araştırma Dergisi, 32, 151–175. https://search.trdizin.gov.tr/tr/yayin/detay/120011
Holm, K., Nokelainen, P., & Tirri, K. (2009). Relationship of gender and academic achievement to finnish students’ intercultural sensitivity. High Ability Studies, 20(2), 187–200. https://doi.org/10.1080/13598130903358543
Hou, Y., Xiong, D., Jiang, T., Song, L., & Wang, Q. (2019). Social media addiction : Its impact, mediation, and intervention. Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 13(1), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.5817/CP2019-1-4
Jones, A., Hook, M., Podduturi, P., McKeen, H., Beitzell, E., & Liss, M. (2022). Mindfulness as a mediator in the relationship between social media engagement and depression in young adults. Personality and Individual Differences, 185, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.111284
Kadirova, B., & Shahzoda, K. (2023). The role of the problems of the media field in globalization period. Science and Inovation, 2(1), 444–449. https://scientists.uz/view.php?id=3694
Karaca, F. (2017). Üniversite öğrencilerinin internet bağımlılığı düzeyleri ile akıllı telefon kullanma alışkanlıkları arasındaki ilişkilerin incelenmesi [The relations between university students’ internet addiction and smart phone usage habits]. Mehmet Akif Ersoy Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 44, 581–597. https://doi.org/10.21764/maeuefd.334953
Kashirskaya, I. K. (2023). Attitudes toward altruism or sel shness among boys and girls depending upon virtual or real communication preferences. New Ideas in Child and Educational Psychology, 4(1), 81–92. https://doi.org/10.11621/nicep.2023.0405
Khalaf, A. M., Alubied, A. A., Khalaf, A. M., & Rifaey, A. A. (2023). The impact of social media on the mental health of Adolescents and young adults: A systematic review. Cureus, 15(8), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.42990
Kırık, A. M., Arslan, A., Çetinkaya, A., & Gül, M. (2015). A quantitative research on the level of social media addiction among young people in Turkey. International Journal of Science Culture and Sport, 3(3), 108–122. https://doi.org/10.14486/IntJSCS444
Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2017). Social networking sites and addiction: Ten lessons learned. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(3), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14030311
Longstreet, P., & Brooks, S. (2017). Technology in society life satisfaction: A key to managing internet & social media addiction. Technology in Society, 50, 73–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2017.05.003
Meshi, D., Cotten, S. R., & Bender, A. R. (2020). Problematic social media use and perceived social isolation in older adults: A cross-sectional study. Gerontology, 66(2), 160–168. https://doi.org/10.1159/000502577
Meter, D. J., & Bauman, S. (2015). When sharing is a bad idea: The effects of online social network engagement and sharing passwords with friends on cyberbullying involvement. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 18(8), 437–442. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2015.0081
Mujica, A., Crowell, C., Villano, M., & Uddin, K. (2022). Addiction by design: Some dimensions and challenges of excessive social media use. Medical Research Archives, 10(2), 1–29. https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v10i2.2677
Neelakandan, S., Annamalai, R., Rayen, S. J., & Arunajsmine, J. (2020). Social media networks owing to disruptions for effective learning. Procedia Computer Science, 172, 145–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2020.05.022
Neuman, W. (2014). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches (7th ed.). Pearson Education Limited.
Nguyen, M. H., Gruber, J., Marler, W., Hunsaker, A., Fuchs, J., & Hargittai, E. (2022). Staying connected while physically apart: Digital communication when face-to-face interactions are limited. New Media and Society, 24(9), 2046–2067. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444820985442
Nursalam, N., Octavia, M., Tristiana, R. D., & Efendi, F. (2018). Association between insomnia and social network site use in Indonesian adolescents. Nursing Forum, 54(2), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/nuf.12308
Öğrenci İşleri Daire Başkanlığı (2022). https://www.ahievran.edu.tr/index.php/15-sabitler
Orlofsky, J. L., Marcia, J. E., & Lesser, I. M. (1973). Ego identitiy status and theintimacy versus isolation crisis of young adulthood. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 27(2), 211–219. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0034787
Orsolini, L., Volpe, U., Albert, U., Carmassi, C., Carrà, G., Cirulli, F., Dell’Osso, B., Del Vecchio, V., Di Nicola, M., Giallonardo, V., Luciano, M., Menculini, G., Nanni, M. G., Pompili, M., Sani, G., Sampogna, G., Tortorella, A., & Fiorillo, A. (2022). Use of social network as a coping strategy for depression among young people during the COVID-19 lockdown: findings from the COMET collaborative study. Annals of General Psychiatry, 21(44), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-022-00419-w
Özdemir, Z. (2019). Üniversite öğrencilerinde sosyal medya bağımlılığı [Social media addiction among university students]. Beykoz Akademi Dergisi, 7(2), 91–105. https://doi.org/10.14514/byk.m.26515393.2019.7/2.91-105
Öztürk, A. (2021). Covid-19 pandemi sürecinde bilişim teknolojileri bağımlılığı [Information technology addiction during the COVID-19 pandemic]. Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 7(1), 195–219. https://doi.org/10.31463/aicusbed.903612
Pelas, M. U., & Suharno, S. (2023). Implementation of assignment methods through social media: Case study of pancasila courses. Journal of Islamic Education and Ethics, 1(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.18196/jiee.v1i1.6
Punyanunt-Carter, N. M., Cruz, J. J. D. La, & Wrench, J. S. (2018). Analyzing college students’ social media communication apprehension. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 21(8), 511–515. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2018.0098
Rask, K., & Tiefenthaler, J. (2008). The role of grade sensitivity in explaining the gender imbalance in undergraduate economics. Economics of Education Review, 27(6), 676–687. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econedurev.2007.09.010
Riaz, S., Anjum, F., & Soomro, L. A. (2024). Effect of social media addiction on the wellbeing of adolescents. International Journal of Contemporary Issues in Social Sciences, 3(1), 242–250. https://ijciss.org/index.php/ijciss/article/view/301
Rizki, S. W. J. (2023). Social media as tools of communication and learning. Journal of Education, Social, and Religion, 15(1), 391–404. https://doi.org/10.37680/qalamuna.v15i1.2429
Şahin, A., Kaynakçı, C., & Aytop, Y. (2016). Ziraat fakültesi öğrencilerinin sosyal medya kullanım alışkanlıklarının belirlenmesi [Determination of social media usage habits of students in the agriculture faculty]. Tekirdağ Ziraat Fakültesi Dergisi, 13(2), 34–45. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/jotaf/issue/19063/201629#article_cite
Şentürk, G., Coşkun Keskin, S., Ömer, M., & Dursun, R. (2021). Uzaktan eğitim sürecinde öğretmenlerin yaşadığı problemler: Sosyal bilgiler öğretmenleri örneği [Problems faced by teachers in the process of distance education: Case of social studies teachers]. IBAD Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 11, 475–505. https://doi.org/10.21733/ibad.978870
Su, W., Han, X., Yu, H., Wu, Y., & Potenza, M. N. (2020). Do men become addicted to internet gaming and women to social media? A meta-analysis examining gender-related differences in specific internet addiction. Computers in Human Behavior, 113, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106480
Tarigan, I. M., Kurnia Harahap, M. A., Sari, D. M., Sakinah, R. D., & Almaududi Ausat, A. M. (2023). Understanding social media: Benefits of social media for individuals. Jurnal Pendidikan Tambusai, 7(1), 2317–2322. https://jptam.org/index.php/jptam/article/view/5559
Teyfur, M., Akpunar, B., Safalı, S., & Ercengiz, M. (2018). Eğitim fakültesi öğrencilerinin akademik erteleme davranışları ile sosyal medya bağımlılığı arasındaki ilişkinin farklı değişkenler açısından incelenmesi [An examination of the relationship between academic procrastination behavior and social media dependency of the faculty of education students in terms of different variables]. Turkish Studies, 12(33), 625–640. http://dx.doi.org/10.7827/TurkishStudies.12558
Tonbuloğlu, İ., & Çukurbaşı, B. (2023). K-12 öğretmenlerinin çevrimiçi öğrenme sürecini zenginleştiren teknolojiyi kullanım durumları [K-12 teachers' use of technology that enriches the online learning process]. Elektronik Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 22(87), 1257–1279. https://doi.org/10.17755/esosder.1276190
Topcu, Ç., & Erdur-Baker, Ö. (2010). The Revised Cyber Bullying Inventory (RCBI): Validity and reliability studies. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 5, 660–664. https://doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.07.161
Turel, O., & Serenko, A. (2012). The benefits and dangers of enjoyment with social networking websites. European Journal of Information Systems, 21(5), 512–528. https://doi.org/10.1057/ejis.2012.1
Tutgun-Ünal, A., & Deniz, L. (2016). Üniversite öğrencilerinin sosyal medya bağımlılıklarının incelenmesi. [Social media addiction of communication faculty students: Üsküdar University sample]. Rout Educational and Social Science Journal, 3(2), 155–181. https://doi.org/10.17121/ressjournal.488.
Uslu, M. (2021). Türkiye’de sosyal medya bağımlılığı ve kullanımı araştırması. [The analysis of social media addiction and usage in Türkiye]. Türk Akademik Araştırmalar Dergisi, 6(2), 370–396. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/tarr
Van Den Eijnden, R. J. J. M., Lemmens, J. S., & Valkenburg, P. M. (2016). The Social Media Disorder Scale: Validity and psychometric properties. Computers in Human Behavior, 61, 478–487. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.03.038
Vishwakarma, M. (2022). Social media: An addictional disguise. Rajasthan Journal of Sociology, 14, 85–97. https://rsaraj.org/rsa/Rajasthan%20Journal%202022%20Vol.%2014%20FINAL%20Mail.pdf
Walliman, N., & Baiche, B. (2001). Your resarch project (1st ed.). Sage.
Winstone, L., Mars, B., Haworth, C. M. A., & Kidger, J. (2021). Social media use and social connectedness among adolescents in the United Kingdom: A qualitative exploration of displacement and stimulation. BMC Public Health, 21(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11802-9
Wu, P.-C. (2013). Addictive behavior in relation to the Happy Farm Facebook application. Social Behavior and Personality, 41(4), 539–553. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2013.41.4.539
Xuan, Y. J., Asyraf, M., & Amat, C. (2020). Social media addiction and young people: A systematic review of literature. Journal of Critical Reviews, 7(13), 537–541.
Yıldız, E., & Koçak, O. (2020). Üniversite öğrencilerinde sosyal medya bağımlılığı ve algılanan sosyal destek arasındaki ilişkinin değerlendirilmesi [Evaluation of the relationship between social media addiction and perceived social support in university students]. Toplum ve Sosyal Hizmet, 31(3), 1102–1126. https://doi.org/10.33417/tsh.681389
Yousaf, A., Adil, A., Hamza, A., Ghayas, S., Niazi, S., & Khan, A. (2021). Relationship between attachment styles and social media addiction among young adults mediating role of self esteem. Isra Medical Journal, 13(1), 48–51. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/376650263_Relationship_between_Attachment_styles_and_Social_Media_addiction_among_young_adults_Mediating_role_of_Self-esteem
Zhao, L. (2021). The impact of social media use types and social media addiction on subjective well-being of college students : A comparative analysis of addicted and non-addicted students. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 4, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbr.2021.100122
Zivnuska, S., Carlson, J. R., Carlson, D. S., Harris, R. B., & Harris, K. J. (2019). Social media addiction and social media reactions: The implications for job performance. The Journal of Social Psychology, 159(6), 746–760. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2019.1578725

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Psychological Counseling and Guidance (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Gizem Nurhan Dağlı
0000-0001-9971-6348
Türkiye

Evren Erzen ^*
0000-0001-9726-2688
Türkiye

Publication Date

March 29, 2026

Submission Date

April 14, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 28, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 1970 Volume: 14 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.46778/goputeb.1675630

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA62WY83HJ

APA

Dağlı, G. N., & Erzen, E. (2026). What makes a difference in social media addiction among university students? International Journal of Turkish Education Sciences, 14(1), 109-126. https://doi.org/10.46778/goputeb.1675630

Öz

What makes a difference in social media addiction among university students?

Abstract

Keywords

References

Details

Primary Language

Subjects

Journal Section

Authors

Publication Date

Submission Date

Acceptance Date

Published in Issue

DOI

IZ

Cite