Gelisim News

Effective measures for the corona virus epidemic, which emerged at the end of 2019 and subsequently affected the whole world, are stated as housekeeping and physical isolation. While leading home, education and business life to be carried to the internet environment, it completely changes daily routines.

Mehmet Başcıllar, Lecturer at Istanbul Gelisim University Social Service Department, said: “Current reports say that the time spent by individuals on social media, the Internet, online TV platforms and computer games has increased at a record level. It seems that the risk of technology addiction is higher than ever during this period.”

The "Digital 2020 April Report", which reveals the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on technology, has been published recently. The report states that the use of the internet has increased significantly in countries where curfews apply. Speaking about the research, Başcıllar said: “With the coronavirus epidemic, 76 percent of the participants stated that they increased their use of smartphones, 45 percent of laptops, and 34 percent of smart TVs. In the research conducted worldwide, 57 percent of the participants state that they spend much more time in the epidemic of online TV platforms, 47 percent on social media and 35 percent on computer games. The highest increase in the use of social media in this period is observed in individuals between the ages of 16-24 with 58 percent and 25-34 with 50 percent.”
Lecturer Mehmet Başcıllar said, “Technology addiction or another concept used instead of internet addiction can be expressed as the individual's inability to fully control his smartphone, social media, internet or computer games. We spend most of our life in front of the screens during the epidemic process. The use of technology actually involves the risk of addiction. In addition, bringing education and business life online makes the risk of technology addiction inevitable.” 

WHAT DOES SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH STATE?

Stating that psychosocial problems caused by internet addiction are also reflected in the results of scientific research, Başcıllar said: “In a study conducted with 1787 participants in the USA, anxiety and depression were higher in individuals using more than two social media platforms. In another study conducted with 2293 participants in Taiwan, attention disorder, social phobia, low self-confidence and aggressive behaviors were found as the results of internet addiction.”

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE? 

Stating that internet addiction threatens the well-being of individuals, groups, families and societies, Başcıllar said, “In this direction, the Ministry of Family Affairs and Social Services has important responsibilities. During the epidemic, large segments of the society should be reached for public addiction through public spots. Undoubtedly, there is a need to create the infrastructure and provide consultancy services that will enable all professionals currently serving in the psychosocial field to serve in a digital environment. Increasing the employment of social workers who will conduct psychosocial studies in the field of Internet addiction will be appropriate.”