The Predictive Role of Media Literacy on Internet Addiction Among Turkish Adolescents

The internet has become indispensable for everyone in today’s technology world, which makes its responsible usage a crucial concern. Internet use habits and addictions among adolescents are a pressing public health issue because they represent the future adult population. Therefore, this research aims to explore the predictive role of media literacy on internet addiction among Turkish adolescents.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in Ankara Province, Turkey, and the population included 401 adolescents aged 15-18 years in the academic year of 2020-2021. Since the data were collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, the sample selection was not feasible, and the study included adolescents who volunteered. The data were collected using a “personal information form,” “new media literacy scale (NMLS),” and “young’s internet addiction test-short form (YIAT-SF).” The data were analyzed using various statistical techniques, including Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskall-Wallis H test, Tamhane’s T2 post hoc test, Spearman correlation analysis, point-biserial correlation analysis, and multivariate regression analysis.

It has been determined that adolescents have a high level of media literacy (x̄=126.76) and are in the risk group in terms of internet addiction (x̄=39.01). The average media literacy among girls (U=153; z=-3.851; 05) and internet addiction among boys is high (U=163; z=-2,961; 05). The results of regression analysis revealed that media literacy predicts internet addiction in adolescents (ß=-0.151; R2=0.060), and also emphasizes the importance of media literacy education in enhancing these skills and mitigating internet addiction.

It is evident that media literacy predicts internet addiction. Therefore, it is essential to provide media literacy education to adolescents. Thus, adolescents’ awareness of media literacy should be increased, and they should become conscious users.