Purpose <p>This study examines the moderating role of digital addiction in the effect of digital literacy on the life satisfaction of amateur athletes.</p> Method <p>A correlational survey was conducted with 320 amateur athletes (151 male, 169 female) aged 15–38 from Osmaniye province, Turkey. Three validated scales measured digital literacy (α = 0.892), digital addiction (α = 0.890), and life satisfaction (α = 0.761). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, regression, and moderation analyses with PROCESS Macro Model 1.</p> Results <p>Digital literacy positively correlated with life satisfaction (<i>r</i> = .25, <i>p</i> &lt; .01), while digital addiction negatively correlated with life satisfaction (<i>r</i> = − .24, <i>p</i> &lt; .01). No significant relationship existed between digital literacy and digital addiction. Moderation analysis revealed that digital addiction partially moderates the relationship between digital literacy and life satisfaction (interaction term: β = 0.12, <i>p</i> = .06). Johnson-Neyman analysis indicated that when digital addiction levels exceed 1.30, the positive effect of digital literacy on life satisfaction becomes statistically significant.</p> Conclusion <p>Digital literacy enhances life satisfaction among amateur athletes, whereas digital addiction has detrimental effects. As digital literacy levels increase, life satisfaction improves. Educational institutions should integrate digital literacy programs with wellness strategies. Policymakers should establish guidelines for healthy technology use, while practitioners should create balanced intervention programs.</p>