Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this research is to analyse social media addiction, usage rate, the most used social media tool, usage frequency and purpose of use according to different gender, age, profession, education level, etc. of people in Turkey.
Method: This research is a descriptive study in survey model. The data were obtained by applying the scales prepared on “Google Forms” in the internet environment throughout Turkey. The population of the research is Turkey, and the sample is 5176 internet users who completed the survey in 2021 via remote access. The data were collected using the online survey technique through the Personal Information Form and the “Social Media Addiction Scale” developed by Tutgun-Ünal and Deniz (2015). These scales were firstly transformed into a “Google Forms” form, and then a link was created for the participants to answer online. Statistical analysis of the study was done using the IBM SPSS Statistics 25 program.
Findings: The findings of the study showed that people are generally not uncomfortable using social media, but rather satisfied. The study also revealed that the Instagram is the most used social media application, and social media addiction scores have decreased with age, but increased slightly during retirement. In addition, according to the findings of the study, social media addiction scores were the highest among students aged 14-18 and unemployed (not working). It was finally found out that there was a positive relationship between social media addiction scores and the time spent on social media; higher in singles compared to married people and women compared to men.