Assignment: 03

Topic:
Social media and its impact on Students’ mental health

Group Details

Names Registration No
Aima Irum FA21-BSM-003
Laraib FA21-BSM-021
Mubashira FA21-BSM-032
Aliza Zareef FA21-BSM-005
Rishma Batool FA21-BSM-041
Qurat-ul-ain FA21-BSM-039

Submitted To: Ma’am Muneeba Rehman

Date of Submission: 18th December 2022

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Table of Contents
Executive Summary -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

1- Introduction -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

1.1-Background---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

1.2-Statement of the problem ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

1.3- Significance of the Study ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

1.4-Scope of Study ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4

1.5-Limitations of Study ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4

2- Review of Related Literature --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4-5

3-Methods of Study -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6

3.1- Data Source --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6

3..2-Participants --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6

3.3-Data Gathering ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6

4- Result and Discussion --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6

5-Conclusion --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7-8

6-Recommendations ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9

7-References ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9-10

Appendix -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10
Appendix A: Questionnaire------------------------------------------------------------------ 10-11

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Executive Summary:
The purpose of this report is to analyze the effects of social media on student’s mental health,
their negative attitude and how social networking sites (SNSs) are affecting them. Questionnaires
were distributed in the campus premises. The results show that majority (95%) of the students
use social media to communicate with their friends, 67 % of students use SNS to pass leisure time,
35 % for professional purposes and 21 % to increase their social circle. We concluded this report
by speculating that many students use SNSs to spend leisure time and to communicate with
various people, which then affects their studies and self-esteem. Due to these, we recommended
various solutions such as staying aware about SNSs, using AD free browsers, getting as much
information about SNSs security and engaging themselves in beneficial activities.

Section I
Introduction:
This report covers effects of widespread use of social media by students around the age 18-26.
The usage of social networks depends upon the user, how he/she perceives it. Some people
either consider it to have favorable influence over them while majority consider it a source of
bane for students.

1.1 Background:
The history of social media stretches far behind than one might imagine. Social media
development has been dating back many centuries and, although it seems like a new trend, sites
like Facebook and Twitter are the natural outcomes. Facebook and Twitter both became available
to users throughout the world by 2006. Alongside, other social networking sites have risen too
e.g., Instagram, Snapchat, Tumblr, Vine etc. Social media is a quicker and simpler communication
network to contact people and make it easier to meet new individual day by day. It is a great way
to entertain oneself after a busy daily routine.

1.2 Statement of the Problem:

The purpose of this study was to determine the negative effects of social media on student’s
mental health, academic performance and character and the methods to implement on the
students to grapple these effects.

1.3 Significance of the Study:

This study benefits students to be vigilant about the effects of social media on their health,
education and moral character. It will also benefit the parents to identify the negative effects of
these networks and enable them to take necessary actions to prevent their children from the
abuses of social media.

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1.4 Scope of Study:
This study was bound only to students of COMSATS Islamabad and of age 18-26. Furthermore,
information was gathered from only these students. Students of other age groups are out of
scope of study. This study only covers the abuses of social network and its negative effects on
student’s mental, academic performance and character.

1.5 Limitations of Study:

1-Study is limited only to students of COMSATS.
2-This report portrays a very limited picture of the negative effects of social media as handful

number of students was questioned.

Section II 1-
Review of Related Literature:
DEBATIN, Lovejoy, Horn & Hughes (2009) stated that Facebook is deeply incorporated in
teenagers’ daily lives through specific routines. Users claimed to understand privacy issues, yet
reported uploading large amounts of personal information. Risks to privacy invasion were
ascribed more to others than to the self. Results suggest that this neglectful behavior may be
based on a combination of high gratification, usage patterns, and a psychological mechanism
like third-person effect. Safer use of social network services would thus require changes in user
attitude.
HAWTON, K., Saunders, K. E., & O'Connor, R. C. (2012) claimed that self-harm and suicide are
major public health problems in adolescents, with rates of self-harm being high in the teenage
years and suicide being the second most common cause of death in young people worldwide.
Important contributors to self-harm and suicide include genetic vulnerability and psychiatric,
psychological, familial, social, and cultural factors. There is little evidence of effectiveness of
either psychosocial or pharmacological treatment, with controversy surrounding the usefulness
of antidepressants.
A survey was conducted among 881 adolescents (10–19-year-olds) who had an online profile on
a Dutch friend networking site. Using structural equation modeling, it was found that the

frequency with which adolescents used the site had an indirect effect on their social self-esteem
and well-being. The use of the friend networking site stimulated the number of relationships

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formed on the site, the frequency with which adolescents received feedback on their profiles,
and the tone (i.e., positive vs. negative) of this feedback. Positive feedback on the profiles
enhanced adolescents' social self-esteem and well-being, whereas negative feedback decreased
their self-esteem and well-being.
KIRSCHNER & KARPINSKI (2017) This article presents the preliminary results of a descriptive and
exploratory survey study involving Facebook use, often carried out simultaneously with other
study activities, and its relation to academic performance as measured by self-reported Grade
Point Average (GPA) and hours spent studying per week. Results show that Facebook users
reported having lower GPAs and spend fewer hours per week studying than nonusers.
ASHKTORAB & VITAK (2016) stated that while social media platforms enable individuals to
easily communicate and share experiences, they have also emerged as a tool for cyberbullying.
Teenagers represent an especially vulnerable population for negative emotional responses to
cyberbullying. At the same time, attempts to mitigate or prevent cyberbullying from occurring
in these networked spaces have largely failed because of the complexity and nuance with which
young people bully others online. To address challenges related to designing for cyberbullying
intervention and mitigation, we detail findings from participatory design work with two groups
of high school students in spring 2015. Over the course of five design sessions spanning five
weeks, participants shared their experiences with cyberbullying and iteratively designed
potential solutions. We provide an in-depth discussion of the range of cyberbullying mitigation
solutions participants designed.
TIGGEMANN & ZACCARDO (2016) stated that ‘Fitspiration’ is an online trend designed to
inspire viewers towards a healthier lifestyle by promoting exercise and healthy food. This study
provides a content analysis of fitspiration imagery on the social networking site Instagram. A set
of 600 images were coded for body type, activity, objectification, and textual elements. Results
showed that most images of women contained only one body type: thin and toned. In addition,
most images contained objectifying elements. Accordingly, while fitspiration images
may be inspirational for viewers, they also contain several elements likely to have negative effects
on the viewer’s body image.

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2- Methods of Study:
i. Source of Data:
Questionnaires created by group members were distributed around the campus among students
whose age group was limited to 18-26 years. The questionnaire included questions about
whether social media have negative effects in their life or on their mental health and did the use
of these social networking sites (SNS) developed interference in their studies and personal life.
In addition, do SNSs provide enough security to whatever they share on it? It was a three-page,
questionnaire and participants had to fill in with their desired answers.
ii. Participants:
Questionnaires were distributed among students of COMSATS in the cafeteria and among
students in library. No personal information was asked.

iii. Data Gathering:

After completing survey, data was compiled by calculating percentages of the answers and
quantitative strategy was applied.

4- Result and Discussion:

This study examined the relationship between use of social network and its effects on students’
mental health. Survey findings indicated that the youth of the present time are devoting a
major portion of their time towards social media platforms. Most strikingly, the interviews
exemplified how deeply SNSs are integrated into daily routines and rituals and how much it has
produced its own routines and rites. Majority uses it to communicate with their friends and
family. Today’s social media has deeply impacted the one-to-one interactions of individuals
rather they are virtually connected to each other on SNSs. It is reported from the research
questions that SNSs interfere highly in the students’ mental health by frequently use of social
media that feels them more depressed and less happy with life than those who spend more time
on non-screen-related activities. Online checking, repetitious notifications, status updates, these
kinds of activities link to the decline of students’ attention span towards their studies. But when
they are linked with educational plummet, they are associated with illnesses or disorders like
depression, anxiety, stress, eating disorder, self-harm, suicide etc. A superior number of
students linked SNSs with these illnesses due to the fact the SNSs welcome them into the world
of false relationships and unrealistic expectations. If SNSs users reported an invasion of
personal privacy, users are more likely to change privacy settings than if they reported hearing
of an invasion of privacy happening to others. Due to this, many students feel insecure while
sharing their personal information on social media.

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5- Conclusion:
Study reveals that students use social networking sites (SNSs) for all communication,
entertainment, revenge and to spend leisure time. Mostly students use it for communication
purposes.

• Friendship is the main reason behind using SNSs.

• Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, and Instagram are most used SNSs among students.
• A higher number of students spends 2-4 hours on SNSs daily. These students are greatly
addicted to SNSs which largely affects their health, studies, and values.
• Many students are not satisfied with the security of these sites which create restlessness
among them.
• The use of SNSs greatly influences their GPA. Because of extra usage of social media.
• They cannot concentrate on their studies.
• 50% of students think that the use of SNSs have negative effects on their life but they
don’t have any solution to make these effects positive and utilize the real purpose of these
sites.
• Moreover, use of SNSs for long hours is the cause of depression for them.

Quantitative Surveys:
The research clearly shows that out of the social networking sites mentioned in the questionnaire,
Facebook is the most used. Out of the 100 respondents surveyed, an estimate of nearly

• Total 27% usage of Facebook out of 50% people is used by students.

• Snapchat 7% out of 19%.
• Twitter third with 17% out of 30%.
• Instagram 29% from 51%.
• YouTube 13% out of 26% audience is used by students.

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 Percentage of Social media apps used by Students

(Pie chart 1)

On the time spent on social media, out of 100 respondents,

• 45 use 2-4 hours,

• 20 use less than one hour,
• 25 use 4-6 hours,
• 10 use 6 or more hours in social networking sites.

This data is illustrated in Graph given below:

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 •

Followings are set of recommendations for students to get rid of negative effects of social media
over their attitude:

• Use proxies and AD free browsers to protect your data.

• Get them self-educated about usage of SNSs.
• Develop some hobbies to spend leisure time such as planting, reading good books and
newspaper, watching scientific and informative documentaries etc.
• Try to discuss and resolve routine issues by connecting with people who are close to you
physically.
• Do not chat with strangers on SNSs and do not share personal information on these sites
with anyone and stay concerned about your privacy.
• Do not like pages which post violent scenes and speeches that cause hatred.
• Try not to use SNSs for more than 1 hour.
• Do not waste your time taking selfies. This is a precious time to focus on career.

7- References:
• DEBATIN, B., Lovejoy, J., Horn, A. and Hughes, B. (2017). Facebook and Online Privacy:
Attitudes, Behaviors, and Unintended Consequences.

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 • ASHKTORAB, Z., & VITAK, J. (2016, May). Designing cyberbullying mitigation and
prevention solutions through participatory design with teenagers. In Proceedings of the
2016 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 3895-3905).
• TIGGEMANN, M., & ZACCARDO, M. (2016). ‘Strong is the new skinny’: A content analysis
of# fitspiration images on Instagram. Journal of health psychology, 1359105316639436.
• McLean, S. A., Paxton, S. J., Wertheim, E. H., & Masters, J. (2015). PHOTOSHOPPONG the
selfie: Self photo editing and photo investment are associated with body dissatisfaction
in adolescent girls. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 48(8), 1132-1140.
• Online.liebertpub.com. (2017). Friend Networking Sites and Their Relationship to
Adolescents' Well-Being and Social Self-Esteem | Abstract. [online] Available at:
http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.584 [Accessed 20 Dec. 2017].
• KIRSCHNER, P. and KARPINSKI, A. (2017). Facebook® and academic performance.
• HAWTON, K., Saunders, K. E., & O'Connor, R. C. (2012). Self-harm and suicide in
adolescents. The Lancet, 379(9834), 2373-2382.

Appendix A
Questionnaire
Social media and its impact on Students’ mental
health
Students of COMSATS Institute of Technology are conducting this survey regarding the effects of
social media on students’ academic performance.

 What is your age?

 What is your gender?

1-Male 2-Female

 Do you use social media daily?

1-Yes 2- No

 From following which social media site/ sites do u use most frequently?
1-Facebook 2-Instagram 3-Twitter 4-Linked in 5-Pinterest 6-Youtube 7-Snapchat 8-Google
9-Others.

 How many social networking sites you are using?

1-Only one 2-Two 3-Three 4-Four or more

 How many hours do you spend on social networking sites daily?

1-Less than one 2-(2-4 hours) 3-(4-6 hours) 4-More than six hours

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 How frequently do you use social networking sites?

1-More than once in a day

2-Once in a day
3-Once in a week
4-Few times in a week

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