Investigation of Cyberloafing Behaviours of University Students: Sakarya University Case

Cyberloafing refers to students using the Internet for personal reasons during academic activities, affecting their academic performance. This study investigates the prevalence, causes, and effects of cyberloafing among Sakarya University students. The aim is to explore the frequency of cyberloafing behaviors and their impact on students' academic performance at Sakarya University. Data were collected from 344 students at Sakarya University through a convenience sampling method. The study included students from Vocational Schools, Faculties, and Institutes. Data were collected between June 8, 2023, and January 12, 2024. There were no missing data. 66.9% of the students spend 3 hours or more daily on social networks, with the majority using smartphones (73.2%) or tablets (13.9%). Science department students exhibited less cyberloafing compared to social sciences students, likely due to hands-on experiments and application-based learning in their courses. Universities should update course content to engage students and enforce stricter technology use policies. Mentoring and behavioral change programs could help improve students' digital habits. Expanding this research to other universities is recommended for broader insights.