The Effect of Computer and Internet Use on the Happiness, Hopes and Optimisim in Past and Future Encounters of Various Age Groups : The Turkish Experience

The weakening of the traditional cultures is becoming more evident from the final quarter of the last century, a period of time where the world starts to look like a "small village" in all means. A substantial cause of cultural deterioration shows to be the growing use of information and communication technologies widening the views, mentalities, and perspectives of people. Today the adolescent groups frequently owning, utilizing and consequently being charmed by the electronic equipment such like computers, internet and cellular phones have developed a unique tradition/practice in sensing and meaning life triggering larger generation gap and fading of established cultures. The main focusing of the paper is on the correlation between computer and internet use and life satisfaction, level of hope, personal development assessments and expectations of the adolescent groups in Turkey. Interpretation of the survey findings indicates that this group grading highest in use of that shows to be the happiest, most hopeful and optimistic ones among other groups. Methodologically, the study is based on data analysis and a review of recent key literature. For more dependable results a further study comparing similar tendencies of the similar groups of other nationalities is recommended.