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Journals / İmgelem / 2026 / Sayı: Yeni Medya Çalışmaları Özel Sayı

The Scrolling Paradox: Analyzing Instagram Addiction Patterns in The Digital Age

Kaydırma Paradoksu: Dijital Çağda Instagram Bağımlılığı Kalıplarının Analizi

Yavuz Selim Balcıoğlu(DOĞUŞ ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-7138-2972
Ümit Bayraktar(GEBZE TEKNİK ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0009-0007-5292-9494
Ejder Güven(KOCAELİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-3662-7142
Journal
İmgelem
Pages
87–112
Publication Date
2025-09-28
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Findings reveal that Instagram's design significantly drives behaviors such as time distortion, compulsive checking, and validation seeking, with infinite scrolling emerging as the primary mechanism underlying addictive patterns.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:This study explores Instagram addiction through the lens of the ‘Scrolling Paradox’ - the contradictory phenomenon where users simultaneously derive pleasure from Instagram's infinite scroll feature while experiencing distress from their inability to control engagement.
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Key Findings & Data:By analyzing 28,434 user-generated entries through sentiment analysis and thematic coding, this research examines how platform design features interact with psychological vulnerabilities like social comparison and FOMO to foster compulsive use.
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Conclusion & Impact:Findings reveal that Instagram's design significantly drives behaviors such as time distortion, compulsive checking, and validation seeking, with infinite scrolling emerging as the primary mechanism underlying addictive patterns.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Sosyal Medya · Instagram Bağımlılığı · Duygu Analizi

Abstract

This study explores Instagram addiction through the lens of the ‘Scrolling Paradox’ - the contradictory phenomenon where users simultaneously derive pleasure from Instagram's infinite scroll feature while experiencing distress from their inability to control engagement. By analyzing 28,434 user-generated entries through sentiment analysis and thematic coding, this research examines how platform design features interact with psychological vulnerabilities like social comparison and FOMO to foster compulsive use. Findings reveal that Instagram's design significantly drives behaviors such as time distortion, compulsive checking, and validation seeking, with infinite scrolling emerging as the primary mechanism underlying addictive patterns. Current interventions, like screen time management, are moderately effective, while mindfulness-based strategies show greater promise in addressing the underlying psychological factors that perpetuate the Scrolling Paradox. This research offers insights into how Instagram addiction develops and suggests more effective, emotionally-focused intervention strategies that acknowledge both the appeal and the problems inherent in infinite scroll design.

Özet

Bu çalışma, Instagram bağımlılığını ‘Kaydırma Paradoksu’ çerçevesinde incelemektedir-kullanıcıların Instagram'ın sonsuz kaydırma özelliğinden zevk alırken aynı zamanda bu etkileşimi kontrol edememekten dolayı sıkıntı yaşadıkları çelişkili fenomen. 28.434 kullanıcı tarafından oluşturulan girdinin duygu analizi ve tematik kodlama yöntemleriyle analiz edilmesi yoluyla, bu araştırma platform tasarımı unsurlarının sosyal karşılaştırma ve FOMO gibi psikolojik hassasiyetlerle etkileşime girerek kontrolsüz kullanımı nasıl tetiklediğini ortaya koymaktadır. Araştırma bulguları, Instagram'ın tasarımının zaman algısının bozulması, sürekli kontrol etme davranışı ve onay arayışı gibi eğilimleri önemli ölçüde beslediğini, sonsuz kaydırmanın bağımlılık kalıplarının altında yatan temel mekanizma olarak ortaya çıktığını göstermektedir. Ekran süresi yönetimi gibi mevcut müdahale yöntemleri sınırlı bir etki gösterirken, farkındalık temelli stratejilerin Kaydırma Paradoksunu sürdüren altında yatan psikolojik faktörleri ele almakta daha etkili olduğu görülmektedir. Bu çalışma, Instagram bağımlılığının nasıl geliştiğine dair içgörüler sunmakta ve sonsuz kaydırma tasarımının hem cazibesi hem de sorunlarını kabul eden daha etkili, duygusal odaklı müdahale stratejileri önermektedir.

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Cite This Article

Balcıoğlu, Y. S., Bayraktar, Ü., Güven, E. (2025). The Scrolling Paradox: Analyzing Instagram Addiction Patterns in The Digital Age. İmgelem, Sayı: Yeni Medya Çalışmaları Özel Sayı, 87–112. https://doi.org/10.53791/imgelem.1685011

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