Investigation of the effect of adolescent's digital game addiction and social media attitudes on cyberbullying danger levels

The internet, which is in every area of our daily life, can affect digital game addiction and cyberbullying danger levels because it is easy, fast and universal. This situation can negatively affect adolescents, especially with the social, emotional and physical changes they are in. This study was conducted to examine the effects of digital game addiction and social media attitudes of adolescents on cyberbullying danger levels. For this purpose, 231 students out of the classes closed due to Covid-19, out of 460 students studying at the 7th and 8th grade levels in two secondary schools in Ataşehir and Sultanbeyli districts of Istanbul in the 2021-2022 academic year, were included in the study. Social Media Attitude Scale developed by Otrar and Argın, Digital Game Addiction Scale developed by Hazar and Hazar, Cyber Bullying Hazard Levels Scale developed by Kavuk Kalander, Bulu and Keser and Demographic Information Form were used in the research. This study is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. As a result of the analysis of the data obtained from the study, it was determined that there was a significant difference between the gender variable levels in terms of the Cyber Bullying Hazard Level Scale total score (p=0.030<0.05). Accordingly, it was determined that the average score of the girls from the Cyberbullying Hazard Level Scale was higher than that of the boys. In other words, it can be said that girls are more exposed to cyberbullying than boys. In terms of the Social Media Attitude Scale's relationship with teachers sub-dimension score, it can be said that those who play games for 1-2 hours a day have less contact with teachers than those who play games for 5-6 hours. In terms of the Social Media Attitude Scale social isolation sub-dimension score, it can be said that those who play games for 1-2 hours receive lower scores than those who play for 5-6 hours, therefore, those who play games for 5-6 hours experience more social isolation than those who play games for 1-2 hours. It has been determined that there is a significant, positive and weak relationship between the total score of the Social Media Attitude Scale and the total score of the Digital Game Addiction Scale for Children. In other words, it can be said that social media attitude will increase as digital game addiction increases. Keywords: Cyberbullying, adolescent, social media, addiction, digital game