Problematic Internet Usage: Why and How Often do Adolescents Use Internet?

Internet causes some challeges as well as it gives adolescents some opportunities. One of the most important negative effect of Internet usage is Problematic Internet Using (PIU). PIU can be defined as “use of the Internet that creates psychological, social, school, and/or work difficulties in a person's life”. The main aim of the present study is to investigate the differentiation situation of PIU levels with respect to gender, age, Internet usage time, having a tablet, computer, smartphone, Internet access at home and purpose of Internet usage. Analyses are created with t-test and one-way variance analysis (ANOVA). The Results has shown that PIU level is higher for boys, older age, have higher Internet usage time, Internet access at home, a computer, a smartphone and use the Internet for entertainment. In addition, groups using the Internet for entertainment have higher PIU level than those who do not use Internet for these purposes. Backwords, the groups using the Internet for doing homework/school project, searching a subject for his/her own personal interest and for reading have lower PIU level than those who do not use the Internet for these purposes. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.