The relationship between middle school students' social media usage habits and values

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between middle school students social media usage habits and their core values. The research was conducted within the framework of the quantitative method and relational survey model. The sample consisted of 401 students (236 girls and 165 boys), aged between 10 and 15, who were studying at middle schools in the Sapanca district. Data were collected through a questionnaire administered via Google Forms, which included a Personal Information Form, the Social Media Attitude Scale and a Question Form on Ten Core Values. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS software. The findings revealed that social media use is significantly associated with some demographic variables. It was found that the frequency of social media use increased with grade level, while parental employment status, parental unity and socioeconomic status were not determining factors in social media usage habits. Differences were observed in the purposes of social media use based on gender. Social media usage was found to have significant effects on students social competence levels depending on gender and grade level. However, no significant differences were found in the dimensions of relationships with teachers or social isolation. When examining the impact of social media use on individuals core values, it was observed that girls and boys exhibited similar attitudes in most value dimensions. However, gender-based significant differences were identified in certain areas such as justice, respect and honesty. The findings also indicated that variables such as grade level, academic achievement, number of siblings, parents education levels, parental unity and income level had no significant impact on students core values. Overall, the results demonstrate that social media use has multifaceted effects on students perceptions of values, with some value-related attitudes showing significant differences particularly based on gender. This suggests that social media plays an important role in the value development and psychosocial processes of middle school students.