Technology addiction and social identity: Generation y

The concept of generations in literature of social sciences is made with specific reference to the West and America. One of the most important characteristic features in determining Generation Y is the technological developments. In the living era, besides its benefits, use of technology can cause the negative outcomes. Internet addiction is the one of these negative results. With becoming of the internet cheap and widespread people, especially younger, has begun to waste time on the internet longer and this situation has started to be effective on socialization. Thus, the internet has become alternative socialization agent to the family which has effective on individuals from the beginning of the life in process of socialization. Identity and social identity which are made in the process of socialization has influenced by this progress. In the recent study, historical age range of generation Y in Turkey was tired to predict, was researched the level of internet addiction of generation Y in Turkey and was examined the impact of this situation on the construct of social identity processes. In line with this purpose a questionarie which has formed by researcher and "Internet Addiction Teste" which has fomed byYoung (1998) and adapted by Çakır Balta and Horzum (2008). In the result of the study have been found that the historical age range of generation Y in Turkey may be different from the West and America; according to the sex, age, class and faculty the usage of internet differs and usage of internet can be effective on the construct of social identities. Beside this 56,7 % is controlled internet usage, 13,3 % is risky internet usage and 0,7 % is internet addict of the participant. Key words: Generation Y, Technology, Internet, Family, Socialization, Social Identity.