Abstract
With the rise of social networking sites as central tools for communication, self-expression, and entertainment, particularly among Generation Z, their widespread use has brought not only benefits but also growing concerns. One such concern is “social media fatigue”—a form of digital exhaustion experienced by users. As screen time continues to rise globally and in Türkiye, this study explores which features of social media and digital tools contribute to this fatigue and how they affect Gen Z users. To investigate this issue, in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 university students in Türkiye who actively engage with social media platforms. The findings reveal that although many participants feel overwhelmed and emotionally drained by their online interactions, they are reluctant to disconnect due to the pervasive fear of missing out (FoMo). Moreover, the study finds that frequent exposure to social comparison, information overload, and misinformation significantly intensifies users’ anxiety, deepening the sense of burnout. These insights underscore the importance of examining the psychological toll of social media, especially on digitally immersed younger generations.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
DIGITAL CULTURE, DIGITAL FATIGUE, GENERATION Z, SOCIAL MEDIA
