Digital Game Addiction: A Study On High School Students in Bulanık

This study aims to investigate digital game addiction among high school students in Muş. The global proliferation of the Internet has led to a significant increase in computer usage rates and the number of digital platform users. Concurrently, shrinking physical playgrounds, growing environmental safety concerns, and rapid advancements in digital media tools have collectively shifted children's preferences from physical to digital spaces. This change means child are now choosing to spend their time on the internet, social media, and digital gaming platforms rather than engaging with friends outdoors. Digital gaming platforms have emerged as a significant alternative to real-life interactions, and the increasing time spent on these platforms has elevated the risk of addiction. Using a quantitative research method, data for this study were collected through a "Personal Information Form" designed by the researchers and a validated and reliable scale developed by Hazar and Hazar (2017). The research involved 405 students across 5 high schools in Bulanık district, Muş province. Analysis of the collected data focused on key aspects of addiction, including difficulties in focusing, procrastination behavior, negative projections, and emotional changes experienced by the students.