A study on internet addiction and social media use by university students: The case of Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University

The Internet and social media have radically transformed communication and reshaped individuals' lifestyles and social interactions. With Web 2.0, the internet has transformed from just a communication tool into digital spaces. This study examines university students' internet usage purposes, social media addictions and platform preferences. Data on the distribution of internet addiction, usage times and social media interactions of Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University students according to demographic characteristics were collected through a survey conducted with the participation of 298 students, and these data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and difference tests. With the exploratory factor analysis carried out in the research, the internet usage behaviors of the participants were defined with the concepts of "internet users' sincerity perception", "internet addiction levels", "fake social life perception" and "obtaining information / being informed". The study focused on the differences created by these concepts according to the gender and age levels of the participants. The findings revealed that gender groups create significant differences in user friendliness and internet addiction levels. In addition, it was observed that factors such as participants' internet usage time, social media addiction and platform preferences differed according to demographic characteristics such as gender and age. In the research, it was observed that university students' internet and social media usage varies according to individual behaviors and academic practices. In particular, the use of mobile devices as the primary means of internet access reveals that digitalization and mobile technology addiction are increasing. The false perception of happiness provides important findings in terms of the reality and satisfaction levels of social media relationships. As the duration of Internet use increases, the satisfaction and social perceptions users receive from the Internet change. Students prefer visual platforms such as Instagram and YouTube. Twitter, on the other hand, has an important place in providing information flow for students. Therefore, according to the research, it can be said that digital platforms have become an indispensable part of social life, although interactions such as physical activities and spending time with friends are still important. These results show that social media and the internet have become an indispensable tool for young people and are transforming their communication styles. Keywords: Communication, internet use, internet addiction, social media tools, virtual networks, university students