University students and the internet in kyrgyzstan: A study on uses and satisfactions

In this age of communication, the internet as a new tool for communication is continuing to grow and develop with astonishing speed. The internet, therefore, has become more than just a tool, turning into a phenomenon contributing to social organization and surrounding the daily life of individuals. The internet serves humanity in many regards, from the social activities and development of the individual to public security, from academic studies to providing minority communities with a platform for expression. This study aims to assess the internet usage habits and motives of university students in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, from the perspective of the uses and gratifications approach. On a randomly chosen sample of 308 students from four universities, four factors have been found as mainly effective on students' internet usage habits. These factors are, in order of importance, information/interaction seeking, social escape, economic benefits, and entertainment. Besides these, it has also been found out that the basic variables affecting the level of importance attached to the uses and gratifications sought over the internet are skills in internet use, time spent over the internet, trust for the internet, the universities the participants study at, the place of access to the internet, and the participants' nationality and gender. © Ahmet Yesevi University Board of Trustees.