The silent threat to health: ‘digital addiction’
Prof. Dr. Oğuz Kılınç, Faculty Member at Izmir University of Economics (IUE) Faculty of Medicine, and Expert Clinical Psychologist Pınar Aytaçlar stated that screen and social media addiction are gradually turning into a growing public health issue. Prof. Dr. Kılınç pointed out that long-term inactivity in front of screens can lead to serious health problems such as heart disease, fatal pulmonary embolisms, and obesity; while Aytaçlar indicated that research shows social media addiction can increase levels of depression and anxiety.
According to the Digital 2025 Turkey Report prepared by We Are Social and Meltwater, the number of active internet users in Turkey has reached 77.3 million. While Turkey is among the countries with the most widespread internet usage, the interest in social media has also been increasing daily. As of 2025, the number of social media users in Turkey has neared 60 million. As the time spent on screens and social media rapidly increases, experts have issued warnings about it not turning into an addiction.
“ABOVE 4 HOURS IS DANGEROUS”
Prof. Dr. Oğuz Kılınç from Faculty of Medicine said that spending time on the phone, especially in bed at night, is not an innocent habit. Prof. Dr. Kılınç stated that sleeping with the phone by the bedside and reacting to every notification reduces the depth of sleep, and emphasized that screen time should be limited. Prof. Dr. Kılınç said, “Spending more than four hours on social media and in front of a screen is dangerous for our health. Taking social media breaks, exercising at the desk, and staying away from screens at least half an hour before sleep are essential. It is of great importance for young people and working individuals, in particular, to be aware of this.”
“IT HAS FATAL CONSEQUENCES”
Stating that screen addiction is not only a psychological but also a physical threat, Prof. Dr. Kılınç said, “When the quality of sleep decreases, cardiovascular health is also negatively affected. Inactivity can lead to obesity, hardening of the arteries, and even fatal pulmonary embolisms.” Prof. Dr. Kılınç, who also stated that long-term exposure to screens triggers musculoskeletal disorders, noted that poor sitting posture can cause scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and nerve entrapments in the wrists.
“LINKED TO DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY”
Pınar Aytaçlar, Expert Clinical Psychologist at the IUE Psychology Research and Application Center (PUAM), stated that according to numerous scientific studies, social media addiction has been found to be linked to depression and anxiety. Aytaçlar said, “Studies show that levels of depression and anxiety can affect social media use; and at the same time, intense social media use can increase levels of depression and anxiety. This is a significant situation. Individuals constantly turn to their phones out of a ‘fear of missing out’ and try to stay in communication with each other. This addiction is more commonly seen, especially among women and in collectivist societies. The need for social connection and belonging in women, and the desire to be included in the group in collectivist cultures, can increase social media use. For men, competitive and game-focused online environments attract more attention. Men are more prone to internet gaming addiction.”
“A TEMPORARY ‘FEEL-GOOD’ SENSATION OCCURS”
Aytaçlar, who said that individuals might also spend time frequently on social media to escape negative emotions or suppress feelings of loneliness, stated that this situation can trigger the dopamine system and create a brief ‘feel-good’ sensation. Aytaçlar, who noted that conscious awareness exercises and therapy methods are effective in reducing social media and screen addiction, said, “Social media offers a temporary pleasure to the individual. This temporary relief, in the long term, can lead to disconnection from real relationships, an imbalance in emotional state, and serious disruptions in sleep patterns. Creating alternative, meaningful activities to replace this pleasure is an important step in fighting addiction. Even focusing on the smell and taste of food instead of looking at the phone while eating can increase this awareness.”
