Introduction - Effects of Social Media on Young Adults’ Well-Being
Social media refers to a digital platform, which allows users to exchange content, information, textbooks, images, videos, and other kinds of multimedia with the use of virtual communities and networks. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube are a few examples of social media (Ahmad, and Sheikh, 2020). The relationship between social media platforms and the mental health of well-being goes in the opposite direction. Over time, the usage of social media platforms causes an increase in the level of distraction of human beings, especially young adults. Every coin has its two sides; likewise, social media has shown its own positive as well as negative effects on mental health in terms of well-being. Social Media serves as a tool for expressing individuals’ creativity and helps in personal growth with the use of blogging or vlogging.
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It allows the users to virtually connect with their social life and social media provides an online platform for sharing ideas, and information, with another group of individuals at their ease of convenience. These platforms facilitate the individuals to get appropriate resources, advice, or any kind of social support from the communities (Ilbury, 2022).
Negative Effect
More usage of social media leads to a negative impact on mental health and well-being. More screen-timing, cyberbullying, and coping with and comparing others, may increase feeling of loneliness, anxiety, and lead towards depression in the young mind. reason for disturbing mental health and well-being (Abi-Jaoude, Naylor, and Pignatiello, 2020).
The following arguments highlight the responsible usage of social media is:
1. Users must have a mindful approach to using their social media platforms by having a certain time limit.
2. User must know the negative impact of social media and use it wisely.
3. Social Media agencies ensure the well-being and mental health of humans, especially the adult ones, by measuring and promoting responsible use with minimizing harm.
Hence, responsible use of social media can help to minimize the negative impact on mental health and well-being.
Figure 124% of teens say Social Media's effects are mostly negative
A summary of the proposed research
This study aims to identify and investigate the extent use of social media and how it gives a negative impact on the mental health and well-being of young minds. The research findings will highlight valuable insight into the relationship between social media and mental health in terms of well-being.
Literature review
After going through the pieces of literature, on the topic of social media and its impact on mental health, the researcher found that this topic carries lots of debate and scope for new research. But no analytical study was conducted on “How social media affects Mental Health and Well-being of Young Adults: An Analysis of the Current Research and Arguments for Responsible Usage”.
The business theory/literature to understand and analyse data
For comprehending and analysing the data about the effects of social media use on young adults' internal health and well-being, business theory and literature might offer a helpful framework. However, it is vital to approach the analysis critically and to examine the theories and literature's limits and biases. The following theories can be used to understand the impact of social media on young minds:
The Social Identity Theory: This theory can be used to examine the impact of social media on young adults' self-concept and self-esteem. According to this view, individuals build their identities through social interactions and group participation (Tolokonnikova, Dunas, and Kulchitskaya, 2020).
Consequently, social media sites that let users create their online profiles while receiving input from outsiders have the potential to positively or negatively affect how they feel about themselves.
The Uses and Gratifications Theory: This theory can assist academics in understanding why young adults use online platforms and how it affects their well-being. This idea contends that people make use of media to fulfil their wants and requirements, including entertainment, social engagement, and information seeking (Choi, et.al. 2016).
Researchers can determine the satisfactions that social networking gives and how they affect young adults' emotional and psychological well-being by looking at the habits of engagement with social media and the factors that contribute to them (Chan and Holosko, 2017).
However, it is vital to recognise that business theories and literature may have their biases and limits, such as cultural, economic, or technological aspects that affect how applicable these theories are to various situations.
Objectives of the study
To identify the extent to which social media use leads to a negative impact on the mental health and well-being of young minds.
To understand the relationship between social media and the mental health of young minds in terms of well-being.
To promote effective strategies that minimize the negative impact on mental health.
Methods
The strategy and methods to be used for the research questions that will be answered
Research Method
Saunders's study, Onion can be used to direct the study design and technique for examining the effects of social media sites on the mental well-being and mental health of young adults in the context of corporate research and analytics(Iqbal, et. al. 2018).
Research Design
The following survey questions will help to achieve the objectives of the study:
Determine the degree to which engaging with social networking websites has a detrimental effect on children's mental health and general well-being by doing the following:
How long do you spend using social networking sites on a daily basis?
Have you ever experienced anxiety or worry when using social media?
Have you ever experienced FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) or a sense of inadequacy after viewing someone else's social media post?
Have you ever been accused of online bullying or harassment?
Have you ever had trouble falling asleep as a result of heavy social media use?
To comprehend the connection between digital platforms and the psychological well-being of young minds:
What effect, if any, do you think social media has on emotional health and well-being?
Have you ever experienced isolation or loneliness after browsing social media?
What impact do you believe social media has on the feeling of self and self-worth?
Do you think social media may have a role in the emergence of mental health conditions like stress or anxiety?
Have you ever before sought help or counselling for mental health issues due to your usage of social media?
To encourage practical methods that reduce the detrimental effects on mental health:
Have you ever considered taking a social media leave to focus on your mental health?
What methods do you employ to deal with stress or anxiety brought on by social media use?
Have you ever engaged with web-based mental wellness support groups or found resources related to your social networking use?
What policies do you suppose the social networking platforms should put in place to give users' mental health and well-being a higher priority?
Have provided any other recommendations for boosting good mental health and well-being among digital platform users?
Sample Size
Assuming an acceptable effect measurement of 0.5, an acceptable degree of confidence interval effectiveness of 0.8, in addition, a level of significance of 0.05, the ideal number of respondents for this research would be roughly 385.
This is based on a population size that would be ten times the total number of samples and the use of a random sampling procedure.
Research Analysis
The general findings of the questionnaire
According to the research onion described by Saunders, some possible outcomes of a study on the impact of social media sites on young adult's emotional and psychological well-being could be as follows:
Survey Question
Duration
Respond
How long do you spend using social networking sites on a daily basis?
Less than 1 hour
25%
1-2 hours
40%
2-3 hours
20%
More than 3 hours
15%
Have you ever experienced anxiety or worry when using social media?
Yes
65%
No
35%
Have you ever experienced FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) or a sense of inadequacy after viewing someone else's social media post?
Yes
70%
No
30%
Have you ever been accused of online bullying or harassment?
Yes
25%
No
75%
Have you ever had trouble falling asleep as a result of heavy social media use?
Yes
40%
No
60%
What effect, if any, do you think social media has on emotional health and well-being?
Positive
20%
Negative
80%
Have you ever experienced isolation or loneliness after browsing social media?
Yes
60%
No
40%
What impact do you believe social media has on the feeling of self and self-worth?
Negatively
75%
Positively
10%
No effect
15%
Do you think social media may have a role in the emergence of mental health conditions like stress or anxiety?
Yes
85%
No
15%
Have you ever before sought help or counselling for mental health issues due to your usage of social media?
Yes
30%
No
70%
Have you ever considered taking a social media leave to focus on your mental health?
Yes
45%
No
55%
What methods do you employ to deal with stress or anxiety brought on by social media use?
Take a break
30%
Limit use
40%
Use positive affirmations
10%
Other
20%
Have you ever engaged with web-based mental wellness support groups or found resources related to your social networking use?
Yes
20%
No
80%
What policies do you suppose the social networking platforms should put in place to give users' mental health and well-being a higher priority?
Offer mental health resources
30%
Limit harmful content
50%
Increase transparency
10%
Other
10%
Have provided any other recommendations for boosting good mental health and well-being among digital platform users?
Yes
40%
No
60%
Findings
More than half (55%) that responded used social media every day for 1-2 hours.
Social media's detrimental effects on mental well-being: 65% of respondents said they worried or felt anxious while using it, and 70% said they felt FOMO or inadequate after seeing someone else's post.
25% of those surveyed said they have been the target of internet harassment or bullying (Barlett, et. al. 2018).
40% of respondents said they had issues falling asleep because of their frequent usage of social media.
Social media's detrimental effects on mental health and well-being were cited by 80% of respondents.
Isolation or loneliness: 60% of respondents said they felt isolated or lonely after using social media (McCrae, Gettings, and Purssell, 2017).
Negative effect on the belief in self and worth, which 75% of respondents thought social media had a bad effect on one's sense of self and self-worth (Lau, 2020).
Social media's impact on mental health issues: According to 85% of respondents, networking sites may play a part in the growing number of mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
Seeking treatment for mental health concerns: 30% of the poll participants said they sought help or counselling for mental health difficulties as a result of their use of social media.
45% of respondents said they were thinking about adopting a digital media pause while focusing on their psychological well-being.
Methods for dealing with anxieties and stress related to social networking exposure: 40% of respondents indicated reducing their use, whereas 30% indicated that they took a break.
Participation with access via the Internet well-being aid communities: A mere 20% of respondents reported participating in platforms of mental disorders wellness support organisations or finding resources linked to their online social networking activity.
For social networking sites, 50% of respondents suggested eliminating dangerous information, and 30% suggested providing mental health resources.
Other suggestions for improving social media users' mental health and well-being: 40% of respondents made other suggestions.
Social Identity Theory and Uses and Gratifications Theory developed an approach to understanding the impact of social media on young people's self-concept and self-esteem.
Were the objectives met and if so, what has been learnt
As a whole, the study's objectives were achieved, and the data demonstrate that excessive online platform use can have a negative influence on youthful people's mental well-being and mental health.
The influence of social media use on young adults' internal health and well-being can be evaluated and analysed using statistical approaches and with the use of Saunders's study Onion. Additionally, business theory and literature can give an advantageous framework for analysing how social media affects young adults' self-concept, self-esteem, and general well-being. However, it is necessary to approach the analysis critically and to examine the theories and literature's limits and biases (Yang, Holden, and Ariati, 2022). Research can provide viewpoints on the association between social media use and internal well-being and overall well-being among young people by highlighting and debating the findings as a whole.
References
Abi-Jaoude, E., Naylor, K.T. and Pignatiello, A., 2020. Smartphones, social media use and youth mental health. Cmaj, 192(6), pp. E136-E141.
Ahmad, D.K. and Sheikh, D.K.S., 2020. Social media and youth participatory politics: A study of university students. South Asian Studies, 28(2).
Barlett, C.P., Gentile, D.A., Chng, G., Li, D. and Chamberlin, K., 2018. Social media use and cyberbullying perpetration: A longitudinal analysis. Violence and Gender, 5(3), pp.191-197.
Bhardwaj, P., 2018. 24% of teens say Social Media's effects are mostly negative (online). Accessed from <https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/live-blog/bse-sensex-today-live-nifty-stock-market-updates-27-april 2023/liveblog/99800925.cms?utm_source=ETnotifications&utm_medium=editpush&utm_campaign=liveblog >accessed on 27/04/2023
Chan, C. and Holosko, M.J., 2017. The utilization of social media for youth outreach engagement: A case study. Qualitative Social Work, 16(5), pp.680-697.
Choi, E.K., Fowler, D., Goh, B. and Yuan, J., 2016. Social media marketing: applying the uses and gratifications theory in the hotel industry. Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management, 25(7), pp.771-796.
Ilbury, C., 2022. Discourses of social media amongst youth: An ethnographic perspective. Discourse, Context & Media, 48, p.100625.
Iqbal, T., Yousafzai, M.T., Ali, S., Sattar, K., Saleem, M.Q. and Habib, U., 2018. There's no such thing as free lunch but envy among young Facebookers. KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS), 12(10), pp.4724-4737.
Lau, M., 2020. An Investigation into Whether Social Comparison on Social Networking Sites Influences Self-Esteem Differently in Gender (Doctoral dissertation, Dublin, National College of Ireland).
McCrae, N., Gettings, S. and Purssell, E., 2017. Social media and depressive symptoms in childhood and adolescence: A systematic review. Adolescent Research Review, 2, pp.315-330.
Tolokonnikova, A., Dunas, D. and Kulchitskaya, D., 2020. Social media and adolescents: Possibilities for satisfying psychological needs. Results of in-depth interviews with Russian pupils and university students. World of Media. Journal of Russian Media and Journalism Studies, (4), pp.36-55.
Yang, C.C., Holden, S.M. and Ariati, J., 2022. Social media and psychological well-being among youth: the multidimensional model of social media use. Key Topics in Parenting and Behaviour, pp.1-20.
