Tekno – Obezite

Extended Summary

Technology is the ability to produce machinery and devices based on scientific knowledge (Gunay, 2017). In Heidegger’s terms, it functions as a technical instrument and is associated with human activity (Heidegger, 1998). Technology is an extension of human limited capabilities, enhancing and augmenting these abilities. For instance, if we could grasp objects without burning our hands, we might not need tongs. If we could drive a nail with our bare hands, a hammer might be unnecessary. If we could fly and swiftly reach distant places, there might be no need for transportation vehicles. Moreover, if we could observe the internal structure of the human body with the naked eye, there might be no need for MRI and tomography devices. If our mental abilities could effortlessly perform all kinds of mathematical operations, calculators might not be necessary. Science emerges as a result of human curiosity and necessity (Gunay, 2017). As long as humans exist, the inevitability of the existence of needs and curiosity suggests that the history of technology can be considered as ancient as human history itself.

The initial developments related to the internet globally are attributed to the efforts initiated by the United States Department of Defense in 1969. In Turkey, the first wide-area network was introduced in 1986. However, by the year 1991, it became evident that this network was inadequate. Consequently, ODTU (Middle East Technical University) and TUBITAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) initiated a project to establish a new network. As a result of the project’s development, the first internet connection in Turkey was established in 1993 (Parlak, 2005). In the early years of internet access, both in Turkey and globally, users were relatively few compared to today. However, it is observed that the number of internet users worldwide has been increasing exponentially over the years. The rapid growth of internet usage can be attributed to factors such as easy access to services, instant access to information, the ability for individuals to establish interpersonal relationships on this platform, and satisfaction with the services provided. Until the 2000s, individuals had limited knowledge about the internet and technology. However, with the advancement of technology, individuals have become increasingly dependent on the internet and tools used with it (such as computers, smartphones, game consoles, etc.) to carry out various tasks (Doğan ve ark, 2008).

When used correctly, technology emerges as a digital force that facilitates our lives. However, in uncontrolled usage, it can perform the opposite function and negatively impact our lives from various perspectives (YEDAM, 2023). In connection with this situation, scientists frequently raise and discuss the question, ‘Can technology be addictive?’ (Widyanto ve Griffiths, 2007; Griffiths, 1999).
The symptoms of addiction are documented in the literature as follows (Dinç, 2015);

• The increasing amount of time devoted to the particular behavior,
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, insomnia, anger when the frequency of the behavior decreases or it is completely stopped,
• Persisting in a specific behavior despite mental, social, legal, or physical problems,
• Losing control over a specific behavior and exhibiting it more than originally intended,
• Spending a significant portion of both physical and mental time on a specific behavior,
• Impairing the individual’s ability to fulfill personal and social responsibilities.

The addiction symptoms mentioned above indicate a process that may have an uncertain outcome. To underscore the issue of addiction and raise awareness against it by making its possible consequences tangible in people’s minds, within the scope of this study, the concept of ‘Techno-obesity’ has been introduced and developed.

Techno-obesity is a concept inspired by the definition of obesity. The concept of techno-obesity explains the technological pollution that occurs in the human mind as a result of continuous exposure to technology, whether intentional or unintentional, in an unnecessary and health-detrimental manner. Although the term techno-obesity is used in the definition, excessive use of the internet, smartphones, digital games, and social media is also included in the scope of the definition, as they are associated with technology addiction. In the concept of obesity, individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher are considered overweight, and those with a BMI of 30 or higher are classified as obese. In this context, being overweight is seen as a process leading to obesity, and obesity is evaluated as a pathological outcome of being overweight. Similarly, technology addiction is seen as a process that culminates in techno-obesity as its outcome.

The definition provided encompasses other terms that bear similar meanings to the concept of techno-obesity. Although generally used as technology addiction, various terms such as pathological internet use (Morahan et al., 2000), problematic internet use (Davis et al., 2002), and compulsive internet use (Black et al., 1999) have been employed by different researchers. Fundamentally, these terms are defined as the individual losing control as a result of continuous interaction with technology-containing devices, exhibiting emotional withdrawal responses such as restlessness, anger, tension, and irritability when losing access to technology or the internet (Akkaş, 2019). In this context, other terms related to techno-obesity are listed below.

Although they may seem similar in terms of definition, they are fundamentally considered interconnected and triggering. Techno-obesity emerges as a result of excessive exposure to technology due to addictive or, according to other definitions, pathological, problematic, or compulsive technology and internet use. In this context, it is possible to express that the mentioned concepts are sub-dimensions of techno-obesity and there is a cause-and-effect relationship among them, based on Figure 1 (Figure 1 is included in the full text below).

Techno-obesity has many causes, including social, psychological, and the consequences of the modern era. These are further detailed in the following subsections.

Techno-obesity has physical, psychological, social, mental, and spiritual consequences on individuals. While the focus has generally been on its impact on individuals, it can be stated that techno-obesity will affect not only individuals but also societies in many areas in the long term. It is believed that members of a society who have lost their physical, mental, social, and intellectual health due to falling into techno-obesity may find it challenging to engage in healthy communication, receive quality education, provide quality educational services, and contribute to the society by generating beneficial knowledge and science. Therefore, it is thought that techno-obesity, in addition to the personal harm it causes, will also lead to negative outcomes on a societal level.

In the context of combating techno-obesity:

• The implementation of the Techno-Fasting experiment conducted by Erdem and colleagues (2019),
• Adapting and applying rehabilitative treatment methods aimed at addressing techno-obesity, specifically tailored for individuals affected, as part of the anti-addiction efforts in Isparta,
• The study conducted by Hou and colleagues (2019) is believed to be beneficial when applied to individuals under appropriate conditions and environments.
• In this study, the emergence, definition, sub-dimensions, risk factors, potential consequences for individuals and society, and methods of combating the concept of techno-obesity have been discussed in broad terms. It is believed that more detailed studies could deepen the understanding of this concept. By evaluating it as a result of technology addiction (such as internet addiction, social media addiction, digital game addiction, and smartphone addiction), it is thought to contribute to emphasizing the severity of existing technology addiction. In this context, detailed studies can be conducted on the introduction (why and when the problem manifests itself), development (how it is noticed and what the symptoms are), and conclusion (changes it brings about in an individual’s life) phases, and recommendations can be developed to prevent possible negative outcomes.