The Connected Generation: Analyzing Problematic Internet Use Risks
Digital technology has radically transformed daily life. Young people are now intensive users of communication networks. Official data from TURKSTAT (2025) shows a dramatic rise in connectivity. In 2024, 96.5% of 16-24 year olds used the internet. This includes 97.4% of men and 95.6% of women. This contrasts sharply with 2004, when only 26.6% were online. The trend aligns with Europe. In 2023, 97% of EU youth accessed the internet, compared to 86% of the general population (EUROSTAT, 2025).
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Schema Therapy Beats Standard Care for Anxious Personality Disorders, Dutch Study ShowsAs online time increases, researchers focus on problematic internet use (PIU). This concept describes a loss of control over digital content consumption. It disrupts daily activities and causes psychological and social difficulties (Ceyhan et al., 2007). Adolescents and young adults are particularly vulnerable due to developmental characteristics (Özgözgü et al., 2022). Studies identify several variables associated with PIU. These include easy network access, lack of social support, and family structure (Alevsaçanlar Cücü, 2020).
The negative impact of excessive use manifests in declining academic performance. It also causes social isolation and psychological issues (Aras and Karakuş, 2025; Günlü and Ceyhan, 2017). Users report time loss, exposure to misinformation, and poor self-control (Turanalp, 2016). Emotional loneliness and low self-esteem are also common (Yaşar, 2021). Symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression are frequently reported (Aras and Karakuş, 2025; Dinç, 2015).
The average daily internet time for Turkish youth is estimated at 7.5 hours. A significant portion goes to social networks and online games (Aras and Karakuş, 2025). Globally, the average is about 6 hours and 40 minutes (We Are Social, 2025). In the US and UK, it exceeds 7 hours (Backlinko, 2025). High PIU correlates with musculoskeletal complaints. It also links to poor school results, time management issues, depression, anxiety, and stress (İkiz et al., 2015; Moreno et al., 2011; Vlad, 2024). Intensive use is also linked to risks like cyberbullying, illegal gambling, and scams (Gönültaş, 2022; Kusumadewi et al., 2025). These factors have led to PIU being treated as a public health issue (Chen et al., 2024; Theodoratou et al., 2025; Yildirim Demirdöğen et al., 2024).
The negative impact of excessive use manifests
Adolescence and emerging adulthood span from late school years to mid-twenties (Arnett, 2000). This period involves identity exploration and growing autonomy. It coincides with intensive digital use. The 15-24 age group covers late adolescence and early adulthood. In the Turkish education system, this corresponds to high school and undergraduate students. They share similar internet access and usage conditions. Therefore, education level was analyzed as a moderating variable.
Theoretical models help explain why demographic and behavioral traits link to PIU. Davis' cognitive-behavioral model (2001) distinguishes specific pathological use from generalized use. It suggests distal vulnerabilities prepare the ground for PIU. Dysfunctional cognitions about self and the online world maintain this behavior. The I-PACE model extends this view. It describes problematic use as a product of interactions. These include personal traits, affective responses, executive control, and satisfaction (Brand et al., 2016; Brand et al., 2019). In this framework, sex and family socioeconomic status act as distal personal and environmental traits. They shape usage motives, access, and parental mediation. Conversely, daily online time reflects the behavioral pattern through which reinforcement accumulates.
A recent narrative theoretical review on youth and emerging adults highlights that associations between digital media use and mental health vary. These include problematic use, support factors, risk behaviors, and moderating variables (Luis et al., 2026). Research on PIU in Turkey has typically examined a limited number of demographic correlates. Most studies report higher PIU in male students compared to female students. However, results are mixed, and some studies find no significant differences. Younger students and those in lower school years also report higher PIU (Akgün Kostak et al., 2019; Aktu, 2024). Higher household income, device ownership, and private network access are associated with higher PIU risk (Sayılı et al., 2021).
Previous meta-analyses in Turkey focused exclusively on sex differences (Akbaş et al., 2019; Öksüz, 2019). To date, no meta-analysis has synthesized PIU differences based on daily internet use or household income. It has also not analyzed whether sex differences have changed over time. This gap highlights the need for broader demographic analysis in Turkish youth digital health research.