THE FAKE MESSIAH OF THE LONELY HUMAN IN THE MODERN WORLD: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LONELINESS AND PATTERNS OF USAGE AND SMARTPHONE ADDICTION

Abstract

Smartphone addiction corresponds to a problematic phone use that leads to disruption of social relations, decreased work and academic performance, loss of concentration, and various physical and mental problems. Apart from its functional features, the problematic use of smartphones to get away from the troubles of daily life and to relieve loneliness is a global problem. Looking at the literature, it is seen that many studies on technological addictions and smartphone addiction have been carried out. This study, which focuses on a similar problem, was designed to discuss the subject of smartphone addiction over the loneliness variable. In this study, in which the quantitative research method was used, online data were collected from 481 students studying at Necmettin Erbakan University. The most important result of the study; there is a positive significant relationship between students' loneliness level and smartphone addiction. Again, as the daily smartphone usage time of the participants' increases, an increase is observed in their addiction levels.