The relationship between self-actualization and Instagram according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs

Founded by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger on October 5, 2010 as a free photo editing and sharing application for iOS, Instagram has over 50 million users in Turkey. This research explores the correlation between the self-actualization needs of individuals and their use of Instagram, drawing upon Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory. According to Maslow, basic needs follow a hierarchical order; The ultimate self-actualization need involves the individual's desire to maximize his or her potential and achieve personal goals.The research aims to understand how Instagram, which stands out in popular culture and academic literature, affects individuals' self-actualization processes. In the first part, Maslow's hierarchy of needs is discussed in detail and each stage is detailed. The second part focuses on general information about social media and especially Instagram, its development and its relationship with self-actualization. In the third part of the research, 471 participants were reached by easy sampling method. The findings were analyzed using the SPSS program. The self-actualization scale was used and it was determined that the scale was reliable and valid. While it was observed that Instagram use did not directly affect self-actualization, variability was observed depending on the duration of daily use and the educational status of the participants. As a result, it has been concluded that Instagram actively affects the self-actualization of individuals with long daily usage time and high education level. Keywords: Instagram, Hierarchy of needs, Self-actualization, Social media