Abstract:

Social media usage become widespread rapidly, and time spent on social media is increasing in parallel. Social media can be useful or harmful depending on its intended use and form. Beneficial use is the conscious use to facilitate daily work and life by improving competence in digital technologies. Spending prolonged leisure time using digital technologies for games and entertainment is harmful use. Digital technologies are not only social media but also all information and technology tools. The aim of this research is to investigate whether daily social media use has an effect on employees' attitudes towards digital technologies. Data were gathered from teachers working at schools in Hopa district of Artvin, in Turkey, by using an attitude scale towards digital technologies with the survey method. The scale used in the study was approved by the ethics committee. 120 school principals and teachers participated in the study. The data obtained in the study were analysed using the SPSS 25 statistical program. First of all, the reliability and validity of the data obtained in the study were tested and verified. Also, in the research, whether the time spent on daily social media has an effect on the dimensions of the attitude towards digital technologies, one-way MANOVA analysis conducted, and correlation analysis were applied to determine the relationship between the variables. Research findings revealed that the daily usage of social media by the participants had a significant and positive effect on the competence, social networks, interest in technology and negative aspects dimensions of the attitude towards digital technologies. However, it was determined that there is no significant effect on technology at work, technology for me, recreational use, and conscious use dimensions. It was concluded that the over usage of the social media increases the competence, interest, and negative aspects of digital technologies, especially in social networks. On the other hand, it was concluded that social media was not used beneficially at the desired level, as it did not affect the participants' positive perception of technology, recreational use, and use of technology at work and conscious use.

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