CALL FOR PAPERS
Digital Well-Being and Problematic Internet Use
Submission Deadline: November 10, 2025
Issue Editor: Dr. Firuze Selen Çağlar
The Journal of Media Literacy Studies, Turkey’s first academic journal with the theme of ‘media literacy’, continues its studies with the aim of having a publication content that directly affects daily life such as children and the media, family and the media, the media analysis, digital games, digitalization and ethics, digitalization and law and media literacy education.
The concepts of digital well-being and susceptibility to problematic internet use have become increasingly prominent in scholarly discourse, serving as essential frameworks for examining our interactions with digital platforms, applications, and websites that integrate into virtually every facet of contemporary daily life. In this context, the December 2025 issue of the journal, themed “Well-being and Problematic Internet Use,” will feature studies aimed at raising awareness and fostering scholarly discussion around these pressing topics.
The concept of “well-being” is defined in the scholarly literature, encompassing its broad spectrum across social, psychological, and environmental domains. Conversely, subjective well-being pertains to individuals’ perceived satisfaction with their daily lives, emphasizing the avoidance of stimuli that induce anxiety, the enhancement of positive emotions, and the mitigation of negative affect. The concept of “digital well-being” is grounded in foundational principles and emerges from the interaction with digital media platforms, mobile devices, and other technological tools. It encompasses a holistic state of individual well-being, affecting social, physical, and spiritual dimensions. On the other hand, problematic internet use refers to situations in which individuals struggle to regulate their use of digital technologies, experience difficulties in maintaining functional aspects of their daily lives, and often engage in impulsive behaviors or use the internet as a means of escaping reality. The rapid gratification obtained through online activities gradually becomes insufficient over time, leading individuals to develop an increasing desire to spend more time on the internet.
While digital well-being aims to ensure that the relationship individuals establish with digital technologies is both functional and sustainable, media literacy aims to ensure that individuals use these technologies critically, consciously, and ethically. These two concepts are considered protective factors in preventing problematic internet use. The December 2025 issue of the Journal of Media Literacy Research, with a thematic focus on “Digital Well-Being and Problematic Internet Use,” solicits scholarly contributions from educators, parents, media and communication practitioners, as well as academics and researchers engaged in related fields. As an academic journal, it aims to address research and education together, without neglecting current developments and the pursuit of new literacy with both its theoretical and practical dimensions.
Sub-Headings of the Theme of Digital Well-Being and Problematic Internet Use:
- Digital Well-Being and Media Literacy
- Digital Well-Being and Artificial Intelligence
- Digital Congregations and Problematic Internet Use
- Digital Well-Being Practices
- Digital Well-Being and Digital Hygiene
- Interpersonal Communication and Problematic Internet Use
- Multiplayer Games, Affinity and Problematic Internet Use
- Digital Inequalities and Digital Well-Being
- Disadvantaged Groups and Problematic Internet Use
- Problematic Internet Use, Self-Esteem and Digital Well-Being
- Digital, Social Media Platforms, and Digital Well-Being
- The Influencer Effect and Digital Well-Being
- Attachment Styles and Problematic Internet Use
- Social Well-Being and Problematic Internet Use
- Digital Well-Being, Resilience and Media Literacy
- Digital Communities and Problematic Internet Use
We cordially invite scholarly contributions for the seventh issue of the Journal of Media Literacy Research, forthcoming in December 2025, under the editorial leadership of Dr. Firuze Selen Çağlar. The issue will include scholarly articles and comprehensive reviews. You can submit your articles and reviews to the https://medyaokuryazari.orgwebsite. For any questions, please contact us via the bilgi@medyaokuryazari.org or dergi@medyaokuryazari.org email addresses.
