INVESTIGATION OF NOMOPHOBIA IN SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Nowadays, it is seen that individuals use mass media to meet their social and psychological needs. This situation, addressed by the uses and gratifications approach, has become a behavior experienced by many people with the increasing use of new media tools. However, with the increasing use of new media tools, people began to use new media tools and applications in an unlimited and uncontrolled manner, and as a result, technological addictions emerged. One type of emerging technological addiction is called nomophobia. Nomophobia is the state of anxiety and fear that a person experiences when separated from smart mobile devices such as a mobile phone. In this study, nomophobia was examined in students aged 11-14, where mobile phone use is very common. In the study conducted using the qualitative research method, interviews were conducted with 12 students using a semi-structured interview form. It was observed that the participants experienced situations such as the fear of not being able to communicate with people, the fear of not being able to connect to the internet, and the fear of giving up the comfort provided by mobile devices, related to the dimensions of nomophobia. The findings were examined, and suggestions were made to reduce nomophobia in participants in this age group.