Abstract
Being easy to access and share, social media platforms cause people to spend most of their time in these places. Individuals share pictures, music, and video content in these places; they follow the content shared by others as well. Such appeals of social media lead individuals to become addicted to social media. In this study, social media addiction was evaluated on the basis of the platform, the addicted environment, and the characteristics of the user. In addition, the study is explained with examples, especially on the Instagram platform, through digital storytelling.
TopTechnological tools have many features. The most important of these features is how they affect human life. These effects are not innocent and technology will definitely find the power to connect people to itself. From another point of view, technology is an extension of human beings. Questioning technology in human life, where the technique is decisive, McLuhan stated that people need technology and this need has reached an irreversible turning point (Yengin, 2019, p. 136).
Along with Web 2.0 technology, individuals use Facebook, Twitter and Instagram platforms effectively. These platforms, which were used due to their popularity at the beginning, are being used in many areas such as education, culture, health and economy over time. In recent years, it has become a necessity for everyone to benefit these technologies.
It is essential to deal with the basic characteristics of internet addiction and, accordingly, social media addiction. According to Tarhan and Nurmedov (2011, p. 74), the main features of internet addiction are as follows;
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The internet is used every day of the week and 24 hours a day.
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Instagram usage status is also accessible wherever internet is available
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Internet home, workplace, etc. available everywhere.
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Also it can be used anywhere on Instagram.
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Even on mobile lines, internet packages vary according to social media usage.
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Users receive internet packages according to their social media usage status.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Digital Culture: It is the application of the behaviors that individuals perform in their daily lives in digital environments.
Instagram: It is a social media platform that works using Web 2.0 infrastructure and focuses on visual communication.
Addiction: Loss of control over a substance, object or behavior (action) that a person uses.
Social Media Criticism: It is a critical view that examines the negative aspects of social media on human life.
Digital Storytelling: Creating a plot in digital environments, especially on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, by using communication equipment.
Social Media Addiction: Although the person does not want to use social media, it is the use and inability to maintain his existence without it.