The study of the perceptions of internet and social media among adolescents and problematic use of ınternet

The adolescents’ perceptions of social media in relation with problematic internet use were examined in this study. The study group consisted of 209 students (113 girls, 96 boys), who were studying secondary schools in Istanbul. "Problematic Internet Usage Scale-Adolescent" and "Open-ended Questions Form on Internet and Social Networking Sites", were utilized by the researchers, and applied to adolescents in order to determine students' level of problematic use of the internet and their perceptions regarding social media. The analysis revealed that the adolescents who stated that they “needed” to use the internet had the highest level of problematic internet use. Significant age differences among adolescents with regard to meaning of internet pointed out how the internet played various purposes to individuals in various age groups. It has been determined that students in the 11-12 age group preferred to use the internet for "entertainment” purposes more than for other purposes. It was also found that the problematic use of the internet by these adolescents was associated with their opinions about their own academic achievements - specifically those individuals who thought of themselves as "poor" students showed a higher use of the internet in correlation with high levels of negative consequences.

Download Full-text

Cyberbullying and problematic Internet use in Colombia, Uruguay and Spain: Cross-cultural study

Comunicar ◽

10.3916/c56-2018-05 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 26 (56) ◽

pp. 49-58 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Carolina Yudes-Gómez ◽

Daniela Baridon-Chauvie ◽

Joaquín-Manuel González-Cabrera

Keyword(s):

Cultural Study ◽

Internet Use ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Problematic Internet Use ◽

The Internet ◽

South American ◽

Problematic Use ◽

Cross Cultural Study ◽

Use Of The Internet

The goal of this cross-cultural study was to analyze and compare the cybervictimization and cyberaggression scores, and the problematic Internet use between Spain, Colombia and Uruguay. Despite cultural similarities between the Spanish and the South American contexts, there are few empirical studies that have comparatively examined this issue. The study sample consisted of 2,653 subjects aged 10-18 years. Data was collected through the cyberbullying questionnaire and the Spanish version of the “Revised generalized and problematic Internet use scale”. Results showed a higher prevalence of minor cyberbullying behavior in Spain between 10-14 years. In the three countries compared, there was a higher prevalence of two types of bystanders: the defender of the victim and the outsider, although in Colombia there were more profiles of assistant to the bully. Regarding the problematic use of the Internet, there were not differences between the three countries. We provide evidence on the relationship between cybervictimization and cyberaggression and problematic use of the Internet. The dimensions of compulsive use and regulation of mood are the best predictors of cyberbullying. We discuss our results in relation to the possible normalization of violence and its lack of recognition as such. El objetivo de este estudio transcultural ha sido analizar y comparar las puntuaciones de cibervictimización y ciberagresión, y el uso problemático de Internet en adolescentes de España, Colombia y Uruguay, ya que pese a las semejanzas culturales existentes entre el contexto latinoamericano y español son escasos los estudios empíricos que los han comparado previamente. La muestra estuvo formada por 2.653 participantes de 10 a 18 años. Se recogieron datos a través del cuestionario de ciberacoso y de la versión en castellano del «Revised generalized and problematic Internet use scale». Los resultados ponen de manifiesto una mayor prevalencia de conductas de ciberacoso leve en España entre los 10-14 años. En los tres países, destacan dos roles de ciberobservador: defensor de la víctima y no comprometido ante la agresión, aunque con más perfiles de apoyo al agresor en Colombia. No se observan diferencias en un uso problemático de Internet entre los tres países. Se proporcionan evidencias sobre la relación de la cibervictimización y ciberagresión con el uso problemático de Internet. Las dimensiones de uso compulsivo y regulación del estado anímico son las que mejor predicen el ciberacoso. Los resultados son discutidos con relación a la posible normalización de la violencia y su falta de reconocimiento como tal.

Download Full-text

Mediation of Problematic Use in the Relationship Between Types of Internet Use and Subjective Well-Being in Schoolchildren

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.641178 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Gonzalo Donoso ◽

Ferran Casas ◽

Andrés Rubio ◽

Cristian Céspedes

Keyword(s):

Public Schools ◽

Technology Use ◽

Internet Use ◽

Well Being ◽

Mediating Effect ◽

The Internet ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Problematic Use ◽

Use Of The Internet

Subjective well-being is a broad category of phenomena that includes people’s emotional responses, domain satisfactions, and global judgments of life satisfaction. This research investigates how schoolchildren’s subjective well-being is affected by the different types of technology use, in personal contexts, and, concurrently, whether these effects are different when the use of technology is problematic. The central hypotheses are as follows: (1) the use of the Internet affects the subjective well-being of schoolchildren negatively only when this use is problematic and (2) the effect on subjective well-being is different according to the type of Internet use. To respond to the objectives of the research, a survey was applied to 15-year-old adolescents (2,579 cases), distributed in 330 public schools, beneficiaries of a government program for the delivery of personal computers and Internet for a year. The different uses of the Internet were measured using frequency scales by type of activity (social, recreational, and educational). Problematic use scale measured the perception of negative consequences of the intensity of Internet use on a daily basis. Subjective well-being was measured by the Personal Well-Being Index-School Children (PWI-SC). Subsequently, for analytical purposes, three simple mediation models were created, whose dependent variable was PWI-SC, while its independent variables were Internet use scales differentiated by purpose (social, recreational, and educational) and problematic use as a mediating variable, as well as attributes of the subjects and their social environment, which were incorporated as control variables. The main results show that only if Internet use is expressed as problematic does it negatively affect subjective well-being. On the contrary, when the use of the Internet is not problematic, the effect is positive and even greater than the simple effect (without mediation) between these two variables. This finding is relevant, since it allows us to provide evidence that suggests that, when studying the effect that the intensity of the Internet, firstly, one must consider the mediating effect exerted by the network’s problematic use and, secondly, that not all types of use have the same impact. Therefore, it is useful to enrich the discussion on subjective well-being and social integration of schoolchildren in the digital age.

Download Full-text

Development of a Measure: Reasons of Social Networking Sites Use

Modern Applied Science ◽

10.5539/mas.v10n7p141 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 141

Author(s):

Samira Ranaiey ◽

Mohammad Reza Taghavi ◽

Mohammad Ali Goodarzi

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Social Networking ◽

Social Networking Sites ◽

Internet Use ◽

Two Dimensions ◽

Total Variance ◽

Problematic Internet Use ◽

The Internet

Because of increased attention to PIU (Problematic Internet Use), some measure had been made, but they seem to beInadequate, due to new issue of the internet interactions. Therefore the necessity and importance ofStandard, valid and reliable tools to assess PIU and the related behaviors are clear.This paper presents results of a study that develops a measure of Reasons of Using Social Networking Sites (S.N.S). The reasons were based on an article by Morahan – Martin and Schumacher. The reasons were arranged as a questionnaire. This questionnaire was completed by 156 volunteer students of Shiraz University. The results indicated that Reasons of S.N.S Use Scale is both reliable and valid. The result of factor analysis showed that two dimensions (Positive and Negative reasons of S.N.S use) explains total variance acceptably.

Download Full-text

Problematic Internet use two decades later: apps to wean us off apps

CNS Spectrums ◽

10.1017/s109285291800127x ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 24 (04) ◽

pp. 371-373 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Elias Aboujaoude

Keyword(s):

Operating System ◽

Clinical Trials ◽

Internet Use ◽

Treatment Algorithm ◽

Problematic Internet Use ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Efficacy And Safety ◽

Problematic Use ◽

Psychotherapeutic Interventions ◽

Use Of Internet

Two decades of research into problematic Internet use have not yielded an established definition, much less an accepted treatment algorithm that is based on the psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions that have been tested. Meanwhile, technology-mediated tools that purport to curb unnecessary use of Internet-related technologies and the associated negative consequences are gaining in popularity, despite the lack of rigorous clinical trials into their efficacy and safety. Some popular new offerings that vary in browser, operating system and platform compatibility are reviewed. While they share similar goals as “traditional” treatments, they may be more efficient, scalable, and affordable. Using technology against itself may be counter-intuitive, but the popularity of these tools and their potential advantages make them worthy of researchers’ attention. Telepsychiatry platforms, which are gaining a foothold in the treatment of established disorders, may, paradoxically, also prove beneficial for the management of problematic use of Internet-related technologies.

Download Full-text

Does Ageism Widen the Digital Divide? And Does It Vary by Gender?

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1007 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 315-315

Author(s):

Eun Young Choi ◽

Youngsun Kim ◽

Edson Chipalo ◽

Hee Yun Lee

Keyword(s):

Digital Divide ◽

Internet Use ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Age Groups ◽

Interaction Effects ◽

The Internet ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Use Of The Internet ◽

Retirement Study

Abstract Existing literature informed that ageism might affect Internet use among older adults, further widening the digital divide among age groups. However, little empirical studies have been conducted on this topic. Our study aims to investigate (1) the current use of the Internet by gender, (2) the association between ageism and Internet use, and (3) potential gender differences. A cross-sectional data drawn from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) was analyzed. Separate multiple regression analyses were conducted by gender to determine the varying impact of ageism on Internet use. We used two types of ageism (1) internal ageism (ingroup discrimination) and (2) external ageism (discrimination from external entities) to observe each type’s contribution to Internet use. About half of the sample (52% male and 54% female) reported using the Internet “daily,” while a quarter (26% male and 25% female) responded, “never/not relevant.” No significant differences between gender were found in levels of Internet use, the rates of external ageism, or the degree of internal ageism. A higher level of ageism was associated with a lower level of Internet use. Interaction effects between age groups and ageism varied across gender: external ageism had interaction effects on men’s Internet use whereas internal ageism showed significant results for women. Our findings suggest that ageism may influence Internet use and its impact differs by gender. Gender-tailored intervention strategies should be developed to help older individuals to diminish the adverse effects of ageism on Internet use.

Download Full-text

Behaviors Associated with Internet Use in Military Medical Students and Residents

Military Medicine ◽

10.1093/milmed/usz043 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 184 (11-12) ◽

pp. 750-757 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gerald Schmidt ◽

Michelle Valdez ◽

Maureen Farrell ◽

Frank Bishop ◽

Warren P Klam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Medical Students ◽

Nursing Students ◽

Internet Addiction ◽

Work Performance ◽

Internet Use ◽

Medical Center ◽

Problematic Internet Use ◽

The Internet ◽

Study Results

Abstract Introduction Problematic use of video games, social media, and Internet-related activities may be associated with sleep deprivation and poor work performance. The Internet Addiction Test was given to military medical and nursing students and housestaff to assess problematic Internet use. Methods Medical and nursing students at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and residents from Naval Medical Center San Diego were contacted via email (n = 1,000) and given a survey that included the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and questions asking about other specific lifestyle variables. Individuals who received an Internet Addiction Score (IAS) ≥50 were identified as likely experiencing harmful effects of Internet addiction (IA). Results Of 399 surveys submitted, 68 were omitted due to gross incompletion or failing to finish the entirety of the IAT. Of the participants included, 205 (61.1%) were male and 125 (37.9%) were female. The mean age was 28.6 years old (S.D. = 5.1 years). In regards to training status, completed surveys were assessed for 94 medical residents, 221 School of Medicine students, and 16 Graduate School of Nursing students. Our survey showed 5.5% of the participants (n = 18) indicated problems with Internet use that are concerning for IA. Conclusions The study results indicated that our population showed problematic Internet use in the lower range of global estimates of IA. Rates of IA further decreased between medical students and residents. Multiple lifestyle variables were significantly associated with IA score and may serve as indicators of a higher score. Interestingly, the use of social media during sleeping hours was most significantly associated with increased IAS. This paper discusses IA among military medical and nursing trainees and how problematic Internet use may affect work performance and force readiness.

Download Full-text

Problematic Use of the Internet and Smartphones in University Students: 2006–2017

10.20944/preprints201801.0236.v1 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Xavier Carbonell ◽

Andres Chamarro ◽

Ursula Oberst ◽

Beatriz Rodrigo ◽

Mariona Prades

Keyword(s):

Social Networks ◽

University Students ◽

Mobile Phones ◽

The Internet ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Mobile Phone Use ◽

Problematic Use ◽

Smartphone Use ◽

Use Of The Internet ◽

Over Time

1) Background: It has been more than a decade since the concern about addictive use of the Internet and mobile phones was first expressed and its possible inclusion into the lists of mental disorders has been a popular topic of discussion recently, thus it seems to be a fitting moment to investigate the evolution of this issue over time. The aim of the present study was to analyze the evolution of the perception of problematic Internet and smartphone use in young people over the period 2006–2017; 2) Methods: To this end, a questionnaire on Internet use habits and the CERI and CERM questionnaires on negative consequences of Internet and smartphone use were administered to a sample of 792 university students and compared with data from former studies over the period 2006–2017; 3) Results: The perception of problematic Internet and mobile phone use has increased over the last decade, social networks are considered responsible for this increase, and females are the ones perceived to be more affected than males. The degree to which participants agree with the statement “I am addicted to the Internet” can be used as a screening item for problematic use.

Download Full-text

Expressions of Individualization on the Internet and Social Media: Multigenerational Focus Group Study

Journal of Medical Internet Research ◽

10.2196/20528 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (11) ◽

pp. e20528

Author(s):

Gwendolyn Mayer ◽

Simone Alvarez ◽

Nadine Gronewold ◽

Jobst-Hendrik Schultz

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Media ◽

Focus Group ◽

Baby Boomers ◽

Generation X ◽

Age Groups ◽

Digital Natives ◽

The Internet ◽

Use Of The Internet ◽

Internet And Social Media

Background Growing individualization within the past decades has been described as a fundamental shift in society. Studies have reported how the digital age promotes new forms of individualism with self-tracking technologies and self-presentation in social networks. Potential harmful effects on the mental health of young adults have already been at the forefront of research. However, 2 questions that remain unanswered are how emotional experiences and expressions of self-relatedness differ among generations in their usage of the internet and social media, and if an increasing individualism can be observed by this. Objective The aim of this study is to examine whether the use of the internet and social media has led people to be more concerned about themselves than former generations. The potential consequences of mental and emotional distress among different age groups are analyzed. Methods A focus-group approach was chosen to study the following age groups: Baby Boomers (those born in 1950-1965), Generation X (those born in 1966-1980), and Digital Natives (those born in 1981-2000). We organized 6 focus groups with 36 participants who discussed their private usage of the internet and social media, different devices, platforms and functions, communication behavior, and self-tracking. We applied inductive category formation and followed the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) checklist. Results We found differences in the 3 studied generations regarding the reasons for their use of the internet and social media, the effects of this use, personal feelings and experiences, expressions of self-relatedness, and social relationships. The Baby Boomers voiced a wish to stay autonomous while being in contact with their personal network. Generation X included enthusiastic members who appreciate self-tracking for curiosity and fascination, as well as people who felt fears about data surveillance. The Digital Natives reported a wish to optimize their own body by self-tracking while being faced with norms and expectations that were communicated via the internet and social media. Conclusions All generations expressed self-relatedness, yet by different means. The Baby Boomers expressed less individualism than Generation X and the Digital Natives, who felt the highest strain due to social comparisons. However, all generations reported specific, potentially problematic consequences for their mental health. Age-specific coping strategies are necessary to promote a mentally healthy way of using the internet and social media.

Download Full-text

Phenomenology and Epidemiology of Problematic Internet Use

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195389715.013.0065 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Timothy C. Liu

Keyword(s):

Internet Use ◽

Substance Dependence ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Problematic Internet Use ◽

The Internet ◽

Functional Impairments ◽

Diagnostic Systems ◽

Genetic Studies ◽

Use Of The Internet ◽

Addictive Potential

This chapter discusses the phenomenology and epidemiology of problematic Internet se (PIU). Interest in the addictive potential of Internet activities has grown in the past two decades. Problematic Internet use can be broadly defined as uncontrolled use of the Internet that leads to significant psychosocial and functional impairments. It is currently conceptualized as an impulse control disorder that may share features with substance dependence disorders. Reliable studies have estimated the prevalence in the general population to be about 1%, but higher proportions of individuals might be at risk. Comorbidities with other psychiatric disorders are common. Concerns exist regarding the appropriateness and implications of formally recognizing PIU as a distinct disorder in current diagnostic systems. Given the ever-growing exposure to the Internet, especially in younger generations, PIU might become an emerging public health problem. Further studies are greatly needed, especially those using valid measures and longitudinal designs. Neuroimaging and genetic studies should also be explored.

Download Full-text

Social Anxiety and Loneliness in Adults Who Solicit Minors Online

Sexual Abuse ◽

10.1177/1079063215612440 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 29 (6) ◽

pp. 519-540 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anja Schulz ◽

Emilia Bergen ◽

Petya Schuhmann ◽

Jürgen Hoyer

Keyword(s):

Social Anxiety ◽

Internet Use ◽

Age Groups ◽

Problematic Internet Use ◽

The Internet ◽

Sexual Interaction ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Internet Users ◽

Assessment And Treatment ◽

Treatment Procedures

This study examined the association of social anxiety, loneliness, and problematic Internet use (PIU) with the online solicitation of minors. Within a convenience sample of adult Internet users from Germany, Finland, and Sweden ( N = 2,828), we compared the responses of participants who had not interacted sexually with strangers online ( n = 2,049) with participants who sexually interacted with unknown adults online ( n = 642), and both groups with adults who sexually solicited unknown minors online ( n = 137). Online sexual interaction with adults was associated with higher levels of social anxiety, loneliness, and PIU compared with not sexually interacting with strangers online. Sexually soliciting minors online was associated with higher levels of social anxiety, loneliness, and PIU compared with sexually interacting with adults and not sexually interacting with strangers at all. Interestingly, compared with those with adult contacts, loneliness was specifically pronounced for participants who solicited children, whereas social anxiety and PIU were pronounced for participants soliciting adolescents. These findings suggest that social anxiety, loneliness, and PIU may be among the motivators for using the Internet to solicit individuals of different age groups for sexual purposes. These factors emerged as specifically relevant for adults who sexually solicited minors and who reported greater impairments compared with adults who sexually interacted with adults. These characteristics may thus be important to consider for assessment and treatment procedures for individuals soliciting minors online.

Download Full-text