Evaluation of the relationship between individuals dietary preferences and their social media addiction: An empirical study

The aim of this research is to examine the relationship between the social media usage levels and nutritional habits of individuals using social media. The study was conducted in Istanbul due to its high social media usage rates and cultural diversity. In this context, Istanbul offers a highly representative research area for examining the impact of gastronomic content on nutritional choices. The necessary data were collected from 500 social media users using a convenience sampling method. The Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and the Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ) were used in the data collection survey. The survey form consisted of three sections measuring participants' socio-demographic information, social media addiction levels, and nutritional habits. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, and simple linear regression analyses using SPSS 29.0. The findings indicate that social media addiction levels have a statistically significant and positive impact on individuals' nutritional habits. Furthermore, both social media addiction and dietary habits show significant differences based on some demographic variables. Based on the research results, it is recommended that nutritional content shared on social media be presented in accordance with ethical principles, and that posts containing health claims be monitored by relevant authorities.