DİGİTAL ADDİCTİON EXPERİENCES OF YOUTH: A PHENOMENOLOGİCAL EXPLORATİON

Öz

This study aims to explore in depth the digital addiction experiences of young individuals better to understand the impact of digital technologies on youth. In particular, examining how university-aged young people experience digital tools and how they engage with them is crucial for shedding light on the individual and societal reflections of digital addiction. The study argues that digital addiction should not be viewed merely as technological overuse, but rather as a multidimensional phenomenon that influences young people’s identity construction, social interactions, and psychological balance. Grounded in a phenomenological approach, the research analyzes participants’ subjective meaning systems, lived experiences, and how digital addiction shapes their everyday lives. The findings reveal that digital addiction leads to ruptures in social relationships, disruptions in academic responsibilities, and psychological difficulties. At the same time, digital tools were also found to function as a domain for escape and identity performance. Overall, the results highlight the necessity of addressing digital addiction not only at the individual level but also through societal and policy-level interventions.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Digital addiction
• youth
• phenomenology
• medical social work

GENÇLERİN DİJİTAL BAĞIMLILIK DENEYİMLERİ: FENOMENOLOJİK BİR KEŞİF

Öz

Bu çalışma, dijital teknolojilerin genç bireyler üzerindeki etkilerini anlamak amacıyla gençlerin dijital bağımlılık deneyimlerini derinlemesine incelemeyi hedeflemektedir. Özellikle üniversite çağındaki genç bireylerin, dijital araçlar karşısındaki deneyimlerini ve bu araçlarla kurdukları ilişkileri anlamak, dijital bağımlılığın bireysel ve toplumsal düzeydeki yansımalarına ışık tutmak açısından önemlidir. Çalışma, dijital bağımlılığın sadece teknolojik bir aşırılık değil, aynı zamanda gençlerin kimlik inşası, sosyal etkileşim ve psikolojik denge süreçlerini etkileyen çok boyutlu bir olgu olduğunu savunmaktadır. Fenomenolojik yaklaşım temelinde gerçekleştirilen bu araştırma, katılımcıların dijital bağımlılığa ilişkin öznel anlam dünyalarını, yaşantılarını ve bunun gündelik yaşantılarına etkilerini kapsamlı biçimde analiz etmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bulgular, dijital bağımlılığın genç bireylerin sosyal ilişkilerinde kopmalara, akademik sorumluluklarda aksamalara ve psikolojik sorunlara yol açtığını ortaya koymuştur. Bununla birlikte, dijital araçların bir kaçış ve kimlik performansı alanı olarak da işlev gördüğü belirlenmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, dijital bağımlılıkla mücadelede yalnızca bireysel değil, aynı zamanda toplumsal ve politik düzeyde müdahale gerekliliğini vurgulamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Dijital bağımlılık
• gençlik
• fenomenoloji
• tıbbi sosyal hizmet

Kaynakça

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