Exploring the Role of Digital Social Pressure on Smartphone Addiction

Abstract

People who do not use 21st-century technologies, especially smartphones, are unconsciously encouraged by the network society to use these technologies. Therefore, today, people are not only using digital technologies but are also exposed to social pressure due to digital interaction networks. Therefore, one of the important factors behind smartphone addiction is the digital social pressure felt in society. However, research examining the role of digital social pressure is very limited. In order to contribute to the limited literature in question, this research explores the effect of digital social pressure on smartphone addiction with the Structural Equation Model. Thus, it provides empirical evidence to the literature. The sample of the study consists of 620 people selected by the cluster sampling method. Data were collected with a questionnaire including Personal Information Form, Digital Social Pressure Scale and Smartphone Addiction Scale. In order to show the causal relationship between the variables, the data were analyzed with SEM. The results show that digital social pressure has a very strong positive effect on smartphone addiction. As the level of education increases, digital social pressure increases and smartphone addiction decreases. People involuntarily use messaging applications such as Whatsapp/Telegram intensively. Organizing various trainings to prevent digital social pressure is very important to reduce the negative effects of smartphone addiction. Thus, individual and social well-being can be improved.