Abstract

Each innovation brings along many risks. One of the risks related with the Internet use is Internet addiction. The aim of this study is to examine Internet addiction in adolescence in terms of gender, Internet access at home and grades. The research design used was survey method. The study population consisted of second stage students attending primary school in Konya in 2010-2011 education years. To form the sample, 3 primary schools from high, medium and low socio-economic level were randomly chosen. The sample group was composed of 300 [150 (50%) females; 150 (50%) males; 6^th graders (n: 110, 36.7%), 7^th graders (n: 118, 39.3%) and 8^th graders (n: 72, 24%)]; age range was between 13 to 15. The findings of the study showed that adolescent males are more addicted to the Internet compared to females; 8^th graders are more addicted to the Internet compared to the 6^th graders; and adolescents who have computers at home are more inclined to be Internet addicts.

Key words: Internet, addiction, adolescence.