Digital Fatigue

Digital fatigue is a state of mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion resulting from continuous exposure to technology. This condition develops in connection with intensive use of digital communication tools and platforms. It became more pronounced during the pandemic period, leading to increased social awareness of the issue. The increase in technology-related activities has caused individuals to remain constantly online, resulting in various forms of fatigue at both individual and societal levels.

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Social media fatigue emerges as a consequence of “addiction” in the digital age and is associated with increased time spent on social media platforms. This form of fatigue is accompanied by emotions such as anxiety, anger, disappointment, and apathy, and is characterized by a decline in motivation for interaction. Key contributing factors include technostress, information fatigue (infobezite), fear of missing out (FOMO), and privacy concerns. Within the stress-tension-outcome model, technological overload acts as a stressor, leading to psychological strain and ultimately social media fatigue.

The digital transformation in education during the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the concept of technology fatigue into sharper focus. In particular, distance project-based learning (DPBL) environments have highlighted the impact of such fatigue on academic performance. In a study conducted by Al Mulhim, technology fatigue among final-year university students in Saudi Arabia was examined. The research found that students generally experienced moderate levels of digital fatigue, with the most prominent symptoms being “mental fatigue” and “exhaustion in the face of technology”. ^【1】

Major causes of this fatigue include difficulties in time management, social isolation, technical problems, pressure to engage in self-directed learning, and constant exposure to technology. Students experienced additional stress due to internet connectivity issues, inadequate hardware, and software problems. Inadequate advisory support further complicated the learning process.

Digital fatigue is not only viewed as a cognitive or physical condition but also as a psychosocial phenomenon. External factors such as privacy violations, social media addiction, and excessive notifications exacerbate this fatigue. All these factors can lead to outcomes such as social media fatigue, depression, anxiety, anger, and social withdrawal.

These forms of fatigue, especially prevalent among young individuals, can negatively affect both psychological well-being and social relationships. Social media fatigue is a psychological form of exhaustion manifested through emotional responses such as boredom, depletion, and disinterest.

Social media fatigue and general digital exhaustion are linked to loneliness, attention deficit, social isolation, and psychological disorders. Digital fatigue can manifest through physical symptoms such as eye strain and psychological symptoms such as burnout. These effects can negatively impact individuals’ social relationships, academic performance, and quality of life. To overcome this condition, concepts such as attention resilience and voluntary solitude have been proposed.^【2】

Digital fatigue is a multidimensional issue arising from the technological intensity of contemporary life. It affects areas such as education, social life, and psychological health, leading individuals to experience exhaustion in relation to digital tools. Therefore, individual awareness, digital balance, and the development of support mechanisms are of growing importance. Extraordinary periods such as the pandemic have made it necessary to further research this phenomenon and develop solution-oriented strategies.