Digital Tendency: The Relationship Between Social Media Craving and Leisure Internet Usage in Generation Z

Öz

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between social media craving and leisure internet usage among Generation Z individuals. The study was conducted in accordance with the correlational survey model, one of the quantitative research methods. The study sample consisted of 521 university students enrolled at Yalova University who met the inclusion criterion of being born in or after 2000 and were recruited through criterion and convenience sampling methods. Personal Information Form, the Social Media Craving Scale (SMCS), and the Leisure Internet Usage Scale (LIUS) were used as data collection tools. Independent Samples T Test, ANOVA, MANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear Regression analysis were employed in the analysis of the data. According to the findings, female participants demonstrated significantly higher levels of leisure internet usage compared to male participants, whereas social media craving levels did not differ according to gender. Positive and significant relationships were identified between social media craving and all subdimensions of leisure internet usage. In addition, as screen time increased, both social media craving and leisure internet usage levels also increased. Regression analysis results revealed that social interaction, shopping, and multimedia usage positively predicted social media craving, whereas the information/personal development dimension negatively predicted social media craving. Social interaction emerged as the strongest predictor. Consequently, the findings suggest that social media craving is associated not only with the amount of time spent in digital environments but also with the motivational structure underlying digital leisure experiences.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Generation Z
• Social Media
• Craving
• Digital Leisure
• Addiction

Proje Numarası

Proje numarası bulunmamaktadır.

Dijital Eğilim: Gen Z’de Sosyal Medya İsteği ve Boş Zaman İnternet Kullanımı Arasındaki İlişki

Öz

Bu araştırmanın amacı, Gen Z bireylerde sosyal medya aşerme düzeyi ile boş zaman internet kullanımı arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesidir. Araştırma nicel araştırma yöntemlerinden ilişkisel tarama modeline uygun olarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmanın örneklemini, 2000 yılı ve sonrasında doğmuş olma ölçütünü sağlayan, Yalova Üniversitesi’nde öğrenim gören ve ölçüt ile kolayda örnekleme yöntemleri doğrultusunda belirlenen 521 üniversite öğrencisi oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmada veri toplama aracı olarak Kişisel Bilgi Formu, Sosyal Medya Aşerme Ölçeği (SMAÖ) ve Boş Zaman İnternet Kullanımı Ölçeği (BZİKÖ) kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde Bağımsız Gruplar T Testi, ANOVA, MANOVA, Pearson Korelasyon analizi ve çoklu doğrusal Regresyon analizinden yararlanılmıştır. Araştırma sonuçlarına göre kadın katılımcıların boş zaman internet kullanım düzeylerinin erkek katılımcılara göre anlamlı biçimde daha yüksek olduğu belirlenirken sosyal medya aşerme düzeyinin cinsiyete göre farklılaşmadığı saptanmıştır. Sosyal medya aşerme düzeyi ile boş zaman internet kullanımının tüm alt boyutları arasında pozitif yönlü anlamlı ilişkiler olduğu belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca ekran süresi arttıkça sosyal medya aşerme ve boş zaman internet kullanım düzeylerinin de arttığı görülmüştür. Regresyon analizi sonuçlarına göre sosyal etkileşim, alışveriş ve çoklu medya kullanımı sosyal medya aşermesini pozitif yönde anlamlı olarak yordarken bilgi edinme/kişisel gelişim boyutunun sosyal medya aşermesini negatif yönde anlamlı olarak yordadığı belirlenmiştir. En güçlü yordayıcının sosyal etkileşim boyutu olduğu saptanmıştır. Sonuç olarak araştırma, sosyal medya aşermesinin dijital ortamda geçirilen sürenin yanı sıra dijital serbest zaman deneyiminin hangi motivasyonlar doğrultusunda şekillendiğiyle de ilişkili olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Gen Z
• Sosyal Medya
• Aşerme
• Dijital Serbest Zaman
• Bağımlılık

Destekleyen Kurum

Destekleyen kurum bulunmamaktadır.

Proje Numarası

Proje numarası bulunmamaktadır.

Etik Beyan

Yalova Üniversitesi Etik Kurullar Koordinatörlüğü tarafından onay verilmiştir. Sosyal ve Beşeri Bilimler Bilimsel Araştırmalar Etik Kurulu, çalışmayı 20.04.2026 tarihli ve 2026/182 protokol numarası ile etik açıdan uygun bulmuştur.

Teşekkür

Teşekkür bulunmamaktadır.

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