Introduction

The advent of computers and the Internet has led to a series of dramatic changes and
developments in the ways of generating, storing and sharing knowledge. Overuse of computers
and the Internet creates physical, mental and social problems. Although it is not recognized as a
standard definition, Internet addiction is defined as experiencing physical, mental and social
problems because of Internet and computer overuse. Internet addiction has a negative impact on
workplace relations, interaction with friends, academic life and family life. Internet addicts spend
most of their life in front of the computer passing time with e-mails, chatting, discussion forums
and online games. In a sense, we can say that Internet addicts move their social lives into the
Internet environment. Today, problematic Internet use and Internet addiction appear to be social
issues that should be addressed without delay. In this regard, adolescents and young adults
constitute the largest target group.1–5

the theoretical framework

that this study used to discuss about internet addiction will be Uses and Gratifications theory. UG
theory founded by Elihu Katz in 1959, when Herzog examined the reasons people use the radio
to listen to quiz programme (Herzog, 1942), and soap operas (Herzog, 1944) (as cited in Katz,
1959). According to Katz (1959), the outcomes of media usage depend on why and how they
decided to use the media. Therefore, there are two main components that discuss in U&G theory
which are media that choose to be engaged and gratification that get from the media (Ruggiero,
2000). By explaining about the U&G theory, mainly this theory works operationally through the
social and the psychological needs for individuals generating motives and expectation of mass
media(Katz, 1959), and how individuals use media to satisfy their needs and to achieve their
goals (as cited in Patrick, 2010).

Newhagen and Rafaeli (1996) mentioned that U&G theory is suitable for the internet because
internet has something suitable for everyone, be it information-seeking, inter-personal
communication, entertainment, or escapism. It just likes “chameleon-like character” (as cited in
Patrick, 2010). According to Katz, Blumler, and Gurevitch (1974) U&G theory is commonly
used to: “(1) Explain how the psychological and social needs of people give rise to their
expectation and motivations to choose and to use the mass media that will best meet their needs
and expectations, (2) Explain how people use the media to meet their specific needs, (3)
Understand the motives for their dependency on a particular media, and (4) Identify the
consequences that resulted from the needs, motives, and dependency on a particular media” (as
cited in Patrick, 2010). (see Figure 1)

Figure 2.jpgFigure 1: Uses and Gratification Framework (Katz, Blumler, & Gurevitch, 1974 as
cited in Patrick, 2010)

lead the person to internet addiction (consequences). According to Wimmer and Dominick
(1994), in between 1950 to 1960, many researches began identifying social and psychological
factors that resulted in different patterns of media consumption and gratification. For instance, q
 individual’s mental ability and relationships with parents and peers influences the nature
of children’s television (Schramm, Lyle & Parker, 1961 as cited in Patrick, 2010). In 1970, U&G
studies focused on audience motivation, which at the same time also proposed by McQuail,
Blumler, and Brown mentioned that media serve four important functions at the level of the
individual, which are “(1) Emotional release through escapism and diversion from routine or
problems, (2) Social utility through companionship, (3) Value reinforcement or personal identity
through reality exploration, and (4) Self enrichment through information surveillance”. Hence,
the factors and motivations which discussed just now will be modify and apply to this study. (see
Figure 2)

chart 1.jpg Figure 2: Conceptual modified of Uses and Gratification model

Figure 2 shows the conceptual modified of U&G theory which apply to this study. In this study,
the social factor stand for peer influence, and this peer influence affect both audience motivation
that get from internet and also the consequences. For instance, if a person being influenced by
the peer to using the internet (usage), the person will get the value reinforcement (audience
motivation) by the peer as a sign to follow the peer and not being deviant to the peer group, then
with the long hours in internet will addict to internet (consequences).

There is another example by using this theory model. Example like if now the social factors
change to unpleasant peer relationship or problematic peer relationship, it will also affect the
outcome of this theory. If a person facing an unsuccessful peer relationship in the real
communication, the person will go into internet to seek for another social utility from internet
(audience motivation) and also shown as escapism from problem (audience motivation) that the
person facing currently. With the fully focus and gratification that the person get from internet,
he or she might refuse to get out from the internet and at the end

Peer and Risky Behaviour

There is study done by Agrawal, Lynskey, Bucholz, Madden and Heath (2007) indicated that
having peer with favourable attitudes towards cannabis use is an important correlate of starting in
cannabis use. Besides, a research by Trucco, Colder and Wieczorek (2011) concluded that
reinforcement and modelling of alcohol use appear to be important mechanisms by which
delinquent peers influence the initiation of drinking among adolescents.

In Thomas’ studies (2011) indicated that adolescent choose to engage in delinquent activity in
spite of having a supporting and loving family, because the peer rewards were more salient. In
such case, the pressure to get a higher reward from peer lead adolescent to engage in different
behaviour, although the behaviour might be delinquent but, as long as is in favour of the values
of the peer unit (Thomas, 2011).

Besides family support, adolescent seek support from their friends in order to satisfy unmet
needs in the family environment (Nickerson & Nagle, 2005) and friendship are an extension of
family relationships (Bowlby,1969; Wilkinson, 2004) (as cited in Patrick, 2010). Peer group
provide appropriate socials roles, norms, values, and attitude for group member, such social role
determine what pattern of behaviour is expected and in this case, influence the behaviour of the
adolescent (Lombardi, 1963).

Dodge, Dishion, and Lansford (2006) stated that adolescent who are at risk for delinquency are
susceptible to negative influences from deviant peers, and higher levels of deviant peer
association were found to predict later increases in pro-delinquency beliefs which highlights the
influence peers can have on adolescent beliefs about delinquency (Pardini, Loeber, and
Stouthamer-Lober, 2005) (as cited in Thomas, 2011). Besides that, many research studies about
juvenile delinquency stress the importance of peer groups in the form of bad neighbourhood,
companions, and gangs (Lombardi, 1963).

Peer and Internet Addiction

Based on Harman, Hansen, Cochran, and Lindsey (2005), an internet addiction adolescent
interact less with peers and have incompetent relationship quality. Normally, adolescent who are
addicted to internet are having a poor peer relationship according to Sanders, Field, Diego, and
Kaplan (2000) and Wang, Lee, and Chang (2003), they also experience the difficulty in making
friends based on Mesch (2001), isolated socially (Nalwa &Anand, 2003) and had lower social
skills and deficient relationship explained by Harman, Hansen, Cochran, and Lindsey (2005) (as
cited in Esen & GündoÄŸdu, 2010). Moreover, Patrick (2010) revealed that people, who lack
friends, also use the Internet more heavily to compensate socially, meaning that lack of friends
may increase the motivation of online social interaction.

As cited in Esen & GündoÄŸdu (2010), Kiran-Esen (2007) found out that peer pressure is a
significant predictor of internet addiction. Peer pressure is another variable discuss in internet
addiction. According to Esen & GündoÄŸdu (2010), internet addiction and peer pressure are
related variables, their result showed that the lower the peer pressure, the addiction of internet
also decrease.

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