Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay noted that social media use has become an indispensable part of life in Turkey, stating, “Moreover, this is not an habit exclusive to young people. Millions of people from all age groups spend a significant portion of their day looking at digital screens. The rate of social media users has approached approximately 70 percent of the population. The average daily social media usage time is close to 3 hours, and internet usage time is more than 7 hours, with both figures above the world average.”
Expressing that people feel as if a message has arrived for no reason, Prof. Dr. Atalay said, “Every morning, as soon as we open our eyes, before washing our faces or saying good morning to our loved ones, our fingers automatically reach for the phone as if on autopilot. Are there notifications, has a message arrived, have I received a 'like'? We think we’ll just take a quick look and leave, but it doesn’t happen.”
Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay, Dean of the Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication, evaluated "Digital Fatigue," one of the most common problems of modern society.
Social Media Users Approach 70 Percent of the Population
Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay noted that social media use has become an indispensable part of life in Turkey, stating, “Moreover, this is not an habit exclusive to young people. Millions of people from all age groups spend a significant portion of their day looking at digital screens. The rate of social media users has approached approximately 70 percent of the population. The average daily social media usage time is close to 3 hours, and internet usage time is more than 7 hours, with both figures above the world average.”
We are Using Internet and Social Media Intensely
Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay stated that the internet and social media are used intensely, saying, “Moreover, we are not just consuming content; we are constantly striving to produce, share, and build social connections. Even in the closest relationships, the influence of social media is increasing day by day. We monitor our family members on social media, we make friendly conversations and show off to enemies on social media. We are on social media for work, for love, to be seen, to hide, and also to have fun and to learn.”
Our Attention is Constantly Interrupted by Incoming Notifications
Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay pointed out that one of the invisible burdens of the digital world is “digital fatigue,” and continued:
“Our attention is constantly interrupted by incoming notifications, social media and mobile messaging applications don't leave us alone, and with content updated every scroll, we are slowly but surely wearing ourselves out without realizing it. This is not just mental fatigue; we are also emotionally drained, and we begin to lose our ability to perceive what is happening around us.
In psychological terminology, the term 'digital burnout' is used for this condition. The main symptoms of digital burnout are indifference, apathy, or mental exhaustion. In the digital age, we are exposed to excessive information. Although expressions like 'information society' and 'information age' are often used to glorify this reality, constantly encountering more information than the mind can process does not lead to positive effects as might be supposed.”
Heavy Information Load Makes Us Sick
Prof. Dr. Atalay stated, “The stress caused by trying to digest a heavy information load can make us sick by disrupting our sleep, sabotaging our concentration, and weakening our immune system. As a result, we are turning into societies suffering from Information Fatigue Syndrome. To explain how this situation arises, it is necessary to recall 'Cognitive Load Theory.' Cognitive load theory explains that when we encounter too much information, we start to struggle and experience problems because our working memory does not have sufficient capacity to process this information. Information overload leads to fatigue and a desire for the individual to escape from their current situation.”
Spending Hours in Front of Screens Leads to Burnout
Expressing that people feel as if a message has arrived for no reason, Prof. Dr. Atalay said, “We constantly prick up our ears as if a sound is coming from the phone. Being excessively and continuously stimulated by digital technologies and spending hours in front of screens pushes us towards burnout. This problem has reached a dimension that concerns not only the individual but also their family and social environment, disrupting human relationships. Every morning, as soon as we open our eyes, before washing our faces or saying good morning to our loved ones, our fingers automatically reach for the phone as if on autopilot. Are there notifications, has a message arrived, have I received a 'like'? We think we’ll just take a quick look and leave, but it doesn’t happen.”
Causes Problems Among Families and Couples
Prof. Dr. Atalay also stated that "phubbing" refers to neglecting people next to us in social settings by constantly looking at smartphones and browsing social media instead of engaging with them, and that it causes problems in family relationships, friendships, and among couples, and continued:
“Every time we turn our eyes to the screen, we become a little more isolated from our social relationships, our surroundings, and even ourselves. Silence replaces family conversations; because even if we are in the same room, or even gathered around the same table, everyone is browsing their own digital universe. Digital fatigue increases this isolation, and as we become more isolated, we get more tired and exhausted. There's also a physical aspect to it. The inactivity, incorrect postures, and sleeplessness that digital technologies lead us to seriously threaten our health.”
Social Media Fatigue is Inevitable
Emphasizing that this situation is not just a lack of individual willpower, but that the system itself is designed accordingly, Prof. Dr. Atalay explained the role of algorithms as follows:
"The fact that social media platforms take up so much of our time cannot, of course, be explained solely by the preferences and habits of us users. At their core are algorithms programmed to keep the user on the platform for as long as possible. These algorithms observe and process all our digital behaviors, getting to know us a little better every day. Thus, they begin to predict what they can put in front of us that we won't be able to take our eyes off. Ultimately, social media fatigue becomes inevitable.
The ironic part is that research on this topic shows that social media fatigue is starting to cause users to become overwhelmed by their social media activities over time and withdraw from usage. This means that social media platforms need to review their algorithm policies both for the well-being of society and for their own continuity.”
Digital Minimalism Movement is Gaining Popularity
Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay stated that as users' sensitivities on this issue increase, the digital minimalism movement is also becoming more widespread, and listed the steps to start digital minimalism as follows:
“-Deleting unused applications on smartphones, tablets, and computers,
-Asking "What will I use it for?" when picking up the phone and reducing unnecessary browsing,
– Turning off notifications for social media and entertainment apps,
– Setting screen time limits,
-Designating one day a week or specific hours a day as time to spend away from social media,
– Replacing digital screens with activities such as reading books, meeting friends, or going for walks,
All of these might not seem easy at first, but one has to start somewhere.”