An applied study on the relationship between digital media literacy and video game playing behavior

The innovations brought by digitalization have expanded the gaming ecosystem, offering individuals opportunities for entertainment, socialization, and cognitive development. However, uncontrolled use increases the risk of problematic gaming behavior and game addiction.. This study was conducted to examine the relationship between digital media literacy and video game addiction with the participation of 237 students aged 9 to 12. The findings revealed a weak but statistically significant positive relationship between digital media literacy and video game addiction (p < 0.05). As gaming time increased, addiction symptoms also rose (r=0.52, p<0.001), and the addiction risk was found to be higher among male students (p<0.001). Although parental supervision was not found to have a direct effect, insufficient supervision was associated with increased gaming time. It was also concluded that children mostly play games on mobile devices, and the portability of these devices may make it harder to control gaming time, thus increasing the risk of addiction. The study provides recommendations for developing digital media literacy, managing game time, and fostering conscious gaming habits.