ABSTRACT

In the 21st century, the Social Media become more dominant in our society. Teenagers are

considered the most significant users of social network sites or social media where they spend a

lot of time. Most Teenagers have a Social Media account such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

and more. Social Media has a big contribution in terms of connection to others and as source of

information.

Using Technology evolving in every minute in our life is common in Social Media and

how we use it is constantly changing. On Social Media, many students engage in various

activities online some of these may be potentially addictive. Addiction is the main negative

effect of social networking on students. Some people tend to be addicted to the connections they

make through various social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. In some cases,

addiction causes bad time management to do household chores and study lessons. Students may

not fulfill their responsibilities because they spend more time on using Social Networking Sites.

Most of the students of Saint Augustine Academy ages 15-18 years old used social media

to entertain, get information, communication and socialization with friends and families.

According to the results of the survey students spend 5 to 9 hours a day surfing and using in

different social media networking sites. The respondents also states that there is negative effects

that affect them. The most affected are students is their academic performance in which the

social media become a hindrance for their studies.

However, using social media has many concerns, although there are positive and equally

safe but some are negative, also social media can affect the students’ academic life. Social

1
media’s negative impact occurs mostly as the result of the upward social comparisons we engage

in while using it. Although there is also a positive impact by using it, we cannot blame that too

much used of Social Networking Sites can cause the increases of the risk and severity of

depressive symptoms, anxiety and a host of other unhealthy feelings and behaviors. Social Media

Anxiety Disorder is a mental health condition that is similar to social anxiety disorder, anxiety

disorder is the most common mental health disorders, Loneliness increases the fewer friends that

an individual has, perceiving yourself to be a successful user of social media is likely to have an

impact on feelings of loneliness. Depression is the most commonly cited effect, greater social

media use is linked to lower moment-to-moment happiness and life satisfaction.

As the time goes by, the more we get addicted in social media. Sometimes we’re not

aware that we already had those kinds of symptoms that leads more than just anxiety but

depression. But there are some ways to Treat Social Media Disorder Anxiety it may vary

depending on its symptoms. However, it can be treated with parallel medical attention that is

related to the disorder.

This research aims to evaluate the impact of social media and social networking sites

among students of Saint Augustine Academy ages 15 to 18 years old. Also, to inform every

student that they might acquire a social media disorder and to make them aware for the possible

effect that social media bring to everyone. The researchers give some suggestions and tips to

avoid and treatment once a person has a social media disorder.

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 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

In the early 2000’s, the Web became much more personal as social networking websites

were introduced and embraced by the masses. Social networking sites are defined as web-based

services that allow individuals to construct a public or semi-public profile within a limited

system, articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and view and traverse

their list of connections and those made by others within the system. The nature and terms of

these connections may vary from site to site.

These days the most commonly utilized method of communication is social media

networking. It is being used by individuals belonging to every walk of life. Almost a decade ago,

social media was widely accepted by public. The main purpose of social media is to give access

to its clients and users. They can have conversation with individuals and construct social

relations on the web. They can likewise share their contemplations and individual data on social

media including everyday happenings, suppositions, pictures and video recordings.

Nowadays, most particularly Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube have

become so popular today that they are leading words on the lips of every student. You love to

spend most of you time checking you Facebook updates and other social networking sites, but do

you know that there are many negative effects of using social media or social networking sites?

3
 Most of the students don’t realize the negative effects and impacts of social networking

sites on their life. And the main reason is because they are addicted to it. And, this addiction can

lead to several negative developments.

The main purpose of this study is to suggest some ways of minimizing the bad impacts

and to show you the negative effects of this social networking site on students’ behavior and

performance. This research also focused on finding ways to enhance students’ motivation and

improve their achievements, yet without looking closely at the sources for their demotivation or

academic failures.

This study aims at investigating the main idea of social media networking, its importance

and utilization. The study will also focus on how the use of social media affects daily life of the

students and how it influences their academic performance and behavior.

4
 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The continuous using of social media highlights this research on its impact on our daily

lives because of prevalence of social media use like posting a photos and comments.

The aims of this study are:

1. What is Social Media?

2. What made students addicted to Social Media?

3. What are the concerns that lie on Social Media Disorder and how it affects in academic

performances?

4. What are the ways to prevent the different disorders?

5
 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research is important because it is an underlying theme in using forms of social

media. Since the social media phenomenon is continuing to grow at a fast pace, it is very

important to know and understand the effects on our lives and personalities.

The purpose of the research was to determine the impacts of social media and discover

whether this social media might affect the academic performances of students.

Moreover, the study will enable the students and readers so that they will be aware that,

apart from the benefits of this social networking site, this is more necessary to pose possible

dangers to their health. It is crucial to understand the diversity of social media. It is relevant and

can help the researchers with the information on the influence of social media on student’s

academic performance.

6
 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

The study limits its coverage on the students of Saint Augustine Academy aged 15 to 18

years old, who were using social media. Its purpose is to identify and determine common

disorders in using social media and how it can affect in students in their personality, behavior

and academic performances.

The research conducted some questionnaire to the selected students who serve as the

respondents in this study. The gathered information will be the basis of some factors why that

causes addiction and disorders.

CHAPTER 1
It presents an Introduction of the study, Statement of the Problem, Significance of the
Study, Scope and Delimitation, and Research Design.
CHAPTER 2
It contained the Review Related Literature of the study.
CHAPTER 3
The study focused on what social media is. Also, how social media works and used of
every Students.
CHAPTER 4
It explained and discussed the reason why students addicted and signs that students had
social media addiction.
CHAPTER 5
This study determined the concerns and disorders that can acquired of individuals by
using social media. Also how this disorder affects the academic performance.

7
CHAPTER 6
The researcher will present the ways, tips, and prevention in using different kinds of
social networking sites to lessen and avoid possible disorders that every student may acquire.

And the final chapter comprises the Conclusion and Recommendation of the researchers
included the Reflections and Suggestions.

8
 RESEARCH DESIGN

This study used the descriptive method. The data obtained were analyzed and described.

The researcher used survey questionnaires to analyze, determine and gathered data about this

study. This research is qualitative; this study focuses on measuring the behavior of student to

analyze the impacts and effects of social media for them.

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 CHAPTER 2

Review of Related Literature

Many people became addicted to social networks due to the fact that it is very popular

among not only young people but adult people too. It is also an easy access to communicate, and

it is entertaining. Although, its important purpose to people is to keep in touch with their family,

friends, and old friends that one may have lost touch with. Addiction to these internet websites

became a problem once it starts to affect their daily life.

Because of social media’s growing prevalence, addiction to social media is a growing

area of concerns. Social media addiction can be described as “being overly concerned about

social media, driven by an uncontrollable motivation to log on to or use social media, and

devoting so much time and effort to social media that it impairs other important life areas”

(Andreassen et al., 2017). In fact, an article from The Journal of Pediatrics and Child Health

observed social media use and its impacts on children and young people’s health. The research

article collected multiple past studies and found that social media’s impact on health among

children and young adults is greatest in the area of mental health (Richards et al., 2015).

According to Pamaoukaghion (2055-2010) Social Network Addiction was first known

as a psychological disorder around the world, also internet addiction lead to social network

addiction. According to Young (2009) Social Networking can be compare as the same as being

10
addicted to drugs or alcohol. Internet addiction is big cause of social network addiction because

people started to explore the internet and by that started visiting social network websites and by

that people when to internet addiction to social network addiction. Social networks addiction

can also lead to many problems such as problems with family, work, and friends. According to

Pamaoukaghion (2005-2010) Facebook is one of the most famous visited social network website.

According to Hendry, he compares the young person battling mental illness, who is seen

as exceeding social boundaries, confined to asylum, to the millennial robbed of their legitimacy

because of posting in excess. In this way Hendry’s research argues the possibility that social

media can serve as the problem and the solution: “excess reveals how selfies may reconnect

body and self-distance; and how repetition may disrupt rather than sustain norms related to

discipline and labor” (Hendry, 2014). Social media in excess may actually serve to support an

emerging sense of self, bring to light what is socially invisible, increase intimacy, catalyze

positive internal transformation, and share experiences to trigger growth. This allows social

media users to self-empower; users connected in social media may be able to fight the internal

suppression of thoughts and emotion which may be fueling mental illness and depression

(Hendry, 2014).

The Internet and social networking sites can be a positive influence on adolescents.

Social networking sites provide an outlet for teens to express themselves in their own unique

ways (Boyd, 2007). In addition, they serve both as a meeting place for teens to interact with

11
other like-minded people and as showplaces for a teen’s artistic and musical abilities (Boyd,

2007).

The major negative effect of social media according to Abdulwahaab (2016) is that

students get so much involved in the social media activities that they become social media

addicts. Due to this addictive behavior, students use social media even in classrooms which

creates disturbance for other students and concentration issues in them. Inability to carefully

follow lectures affects their grades. In this way, social networking increase students’ tendency

towards non-instructive, unscrupulous and inappropriate activities, for example, futile visiting

and time killing by stalking. The authors concluded that in order to spare youngsters' and

youthful grown-ups' academic lives, educators and parents should work together. It appears that

the best way to reduce damages of social media is this coordinated effort.

According to Khan U (2009), social media users often time experience poor performance

academically. Similarly, Englander, Terregrossa & Wang (2010) posit that social media is

negatively associated with academic performance of student and is a lot more momentous than

its advantages. Internet addiction consequently gave rise in internet usage within the last couple

of decades. Nalwa & Anand (2003). Recommended that addicted users prefer using internet

setting back their personal and professional responsibilities which ultimately leads to poor

academic performance.

As we know, nothing interesting is ever completely one-sided, so it is for social media as

it comes with both positive and negative effects. There is a correlation between social media

12
usage and academic performance of students in universities. There have been various views and

opinions which recognize four major advantages of social media use in higher education. These

include; enhancing relationship, improving learning motivation, offering personalized course

material, and developing collaborative abilities (Wheeler, Yeomans and Wheeler,2008; Rifkin,

Longnecker, Leach and Ortia,2009). Also, Liccardi et al (2007) argued that students are socially

connected with one another and therefore share their daily learning experiences and do

conversation on various topics through social media whereas Kuppuswamy and Shankar (2010)

reviewed that social network websites grab students’ attention and then diverts it towards non-

educational and inappropriate actions including useless chatting.

Social networking communities will definitely stay due to its millions of users. In

addition, students today stay on these accessibilities of information they may get in social

networks. Social network may help them in giving knowledge in thesis and journals but still

negative effects of this still overweighs especially about losing their self-control. Social

networking sites can be a good way to make connections with people who has similar interests

and goals. Communication is one of the main things why social networking had been viral.

Social networking sites are the huge place to gather information on what is trending nowadays.

The studies and literature that had been written above was based on internet and studied

by the researchers. It is related because it states a negative and positive impact in using social

media and how the social media might affect the academic performances of students.

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 CHAPTER 3

SOCIAL MEDIA

Today, social media is a term that everyone knows. Even the most remote areas of the

world have at least heard of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram that are probably using

them on a regular basis. Fifty years ago, no one knew the term “Social Media”, but now,

everyone knows about it. This term has become a common knowledge in society especially for

youngsters. It is a new entertainment where people can share and exchange their thought,

personal information, photo plus interest. This media is growing bigger everyday with more and

more people use it.

The world today is celebrating the improvements in communication technology which

has broadened the scope of communication through Information and Communication

Technologies (ICTs). Modern Technology in communication no doubt has turned the entire

world into a “Global village”. But as it is, technology like two sides of a coin, bring with it both

negative and positive sides. It helps people to be better informed, enlightened, and keeping

abreast with world developments. The world has been changed rapidly by the evolution of

technology; this has resulted into the use of technology as the best medium to explore the wide

area of knowledge.

3. 1 History of Social Media

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 “Year 1978, the first social media was created. Ward Christensen and Randy Suess

created it and the beginning of virtual community and the first dial-up in history. Social media

before is a Bulletin Board System (BBM) where Ward Christensen and Randy Suess announce a

meeting and share information through posting on Bulletin Board System (BBM). After a decade,

it becomes a personal website, right after the World Wide Web (WWW) launched and many

people loved using it. It allowed internet users to create simple websites for themselves.”1

“By year 1997, everyone agree that the first social media was a website called ‘Six

Degrees’. It was named after the ‘six degrees of separation’ theory that lasted until 2001. The

Six Degrees allowed users to create a profile then friend other users. Also it allows those who

didn’t register as a user to confirm friendships and connected to a few people.”2

“From Six Degrees it moved to the era of blogging and instant messaging. Blogging may

not seem like social media, but the terms fits because of people who able to communicate with a

blog instantly as well as other readers. The term “Blog”is a form from the phrase “weblog”

which was coined by Jornn Barger, an early blogger and editor of the site”Robot Wisdom”.”3

Millions of people had access to the internet that became common for people to be

engaged socially online by year 2000. It was looked as an odd hobby at best. More and more

1
https://www.dgtraffic.com/a-brief-history-of-social-media/
2
Ibid
3
Ibid

15
people began to utilize chat rooms for making friends, dating and discussing topics that they

wanted to talk about. But the huge boom of social media was still to come.

“A new social networking site launched by year 2002 that let users to create profile and

virtual connection with people around the world. Friendster has become a social media for

games. It is a service that allowed us to contact other member, maintain the contacts, and share

videos, photos, messages and comments. It is used to for dating and discovering new events and

hobbies.”4

“After a year Myspace was launched where become a popular place to set up a profile

and make friends. It is originally social media profile website that leads to inspire the other

websites like Facebook. Myspace users are commonly musicians and band that promote their

music and even be heard by record producers and other artists. Also another website launched is

LinkedIn that is for business community, its goal is to allow the members to establish and

document networks of people they know and trust professionally. The members can emphasize

the skills, employment history and education. LinkedIn requires connections to have pre-existing

relationship.”5

“The most popular website today is launched year 2004 by Harvard College Student

Mark Zuckerberg. It became the social media giant that would set the bar for all and other social

4
https://www.dgtraffic.com/a-brief-history-of-social-media/
5
Ibid

16
media services. Facebook is the number one social media website today and continuously boasts

over a billion users around the world.”6

“After launching the Facebook many websites came out that currently use of most people

nowadays. YouTube was founded by Jawed Karim, Steve Chen, and Chad Hurley, a website

where it let the users freely uploads and share videos. Twitter that is known as social networking

and microblogging site that popular in text messaging or SMS inspired by Jack Dorsey, Biz

Stone, Noah Glass and Evan Williams. It lets the users to share and exchange short messages

that contain 140 characters. The short message was called tweets. Twitter is a service that had

the unique distinction of allowing users to send tweets where over 500 million users all over the

world. Also Google plus (Google+) and Pinterest was launched. Google+ is for video chat and

exchange information launched by Google and Pinterest the first social scrapbooking that could

create and share album photos where 10 millions of people using it.”7

“By year 2010, the different social networking sites was launched and become popular to

people. One of this is Instagram where it gained popularity as one of the top social media sites.

These are the different social media sites where until today many people using it: Spotify, Tumblr,

Snapchat, Instagram, Flicker, Netflix, Iflix, and many more.”8

6
https://www.dgtraffic.com/a-brief-history-of-social-media/
7
Ibid
8
Ibid

17
3.2 Social Media

Social media today consists of thousands of social media platforms, but slightly different

purpose. Of course, some social media platforms are more popular than others, but even the

smaller ones get used by a portion of the population because each one caters to a very different

type of person. Example, the Instagram caters to the kind of person that communicates through

photographs, Twitter are perfect for those person who communicate in short business

information, YouTube are for person who want to share videos and Facebook is overall, it can

share and exchange information, images, videos and also it allows a person to share his/her

thought.

Social Networking Sites is used to describe any website that enables users to create

public profiles within that website and form relationship with other users of the same website

who access their profile. It also describes community base website, online discussion forum, chat

rooms and other social sharing information. Commonly, “the phrase “social networking sites” is

used as an umbrella term for all social media.” 9 Social media is “Internet-based tools that

promote collaboration and information sharing can be used in academic settings to promote

student engagement and facilitate better student learning”10

According to Meriam- Webster, social media is defined as “forms of electronic

communication (as Web sites for social networking and microblogging) through which users

9
(Kristen Tarantino, Jessica McDonough, Ma Hua)”Effects of Student Engagement with Social Media on Student Learning”, July 2015
10
Ibid

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creates online communities to share information, ideas, personal message, and other content

(include videos). Social media is accessible to anyone, because it is transparent, engaging,

interesting and interactive to everyone.

We define social media as web-based services that allow individuals to construct profiles,

display user connections, and search and traverse within that list of connections. A social media

is an online service or platforms that focus on facilitating the building of social network among

people who share interest, activities and background on real life connections. It is a website that

allows users to share information within a selected group. It is a great way to stay connected and

a convenient way to share photos. Social media is communication channels or tools used to store,

aggregate, share, discuss or deliver information within online communities.

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 CHAPTER 4

It has been observed in recent times that students have unlimited access to the internet as

well as the social media. The manufacturing and distribution of equally sophisticated cellular

phones has complicated the situation, as students no longer need to visit a cybercafé before they

send and receive messages. Some school are equipped that there is internet connection made

available within the school premises as well as in the library. Online Wikipedia and blogs are the

main resource centers for students as attention have been shifted from making research in the

library to overall dependence on theses social platforms. It is a common thing to see a student

reading in the library and putting the books aside on hearing the sound of a ping on the phone.

According to the survey most students spent their time on using mobile phones than reading

books.

4.1 Social Media Addiction

On the internet, “students engage in a variety of activities some of which may be

potentially addictive.” 11 These are the Social Networking Sites (SNSs) where every student

spending most their time, one of this is Facebook in which 98% of the students have their own

Facebook account. They are able to post their own thoughts online, share information, picture

and videos and also communicating through messaging/chatting people. People today prefer

socializing online rather than meeting their families and friends in real life.

11
(kuss and Griffiths, 2012)

20
 “Social media addiction explains as the excessive use of the internet and the failure to

control this usage which seriously harms a person’s life.”12Young people specifically students

didn’t notice how long they spent their time in surfing in internet, watching online and also

playing mobiles games online. Once a person engages on this social media he/she may be

addicted and may hard to stop or avoid on using it.

Many concerned parents and teachers have expressed the concern of hardly in getting the

attention of their children, and they seem to be carried away by the fascinating world of social

networks. Students cannot make their day complete without using their mobile phones. People

today, students to be specific are actually busy checking their post, shared post and videos,

comments, updating on their newsfeed, watching movies online, playing games online and many

more. This compulsive and problematic way leads them to “addiction.

A student rapidly adopts new technologies and expected that will be vulnerable to

possible negative influences. “Teenagers are considered the most prolific users of social

network sites (SNSs), where they spend a considerable amount of time.”13Once a person engages

to different social networking sites he/she may affect a positive and negative effect of social

media and experience a social media disorder.

12
(Morahan- Martin and Schumacher, 2000).
13
(Sikolia, Mberia, Okumu 2015) “‘My social network, my choice’: User gratification factors influencing choice of online social network sites among teenagers.”

21
4.2 Reasons of Using Social Media

There are lot of social media networking sites that popular to everyone. Numerous

reasons why students used social media and here are some reasons of the students why they are

using a social media.

a. Friends: It is both close friends and acquaintances. It may refer to a friends or classmates; it

may part to community just because they’re friends too. Students use social media because it is

an efficient way/tool to keep in contact their friends, to follow what their friends doing and who

their friends are in contact with. Students can contact their old friend through social media, they

can still communicate to their friends who moved away in different country, able to find new

friends by sharing stories, news, picture and etc. and they can even keep in touch their friends not

seen very often.

b. Socializing: Students use social media for them to socialize. In general, students share their

experiences, reporting activities by commenting and chatting in each other. They use social

media for them to socialize with their friends, families and others.

c. Information: Students access and get information to social media. There are many social

media sites where you can find what you finding for. There are different networking sites for

music, fashion, happenings, hobbies & interest, events and many more that can help and give

information to students. Most students used social media to search and get information needed in

their school works and homework and to informed and get updates on what’s happening in the

society.

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d. Free SMS (Short Messaging Service): There are social networking sites that can access to

free SMS while a member in this networking site. One of the popular sites is Facebook

Messenger or Messenger where everyone can access and use. They can send and receive

message free.

e. Time- Killing: Many users and students use social media as time- killing. They use it as pass

time and entertainment.

f. Sharing and Consuming Content: Some students share and post pictures, videos and

information as incentives. They encourage, motivate and inspire other users and also giving and

posting their own thoughts and perspectives.

g. Unspecified Fun: There is also some students used social media as unspecified fun. They use

social because they have fun and they not mention or describe any particular reason. They only

enjoyed using it and having fun with it.

h. Family: There are certain students used social media because they need to contact their

families. They want to keep in touch in their family because some of their family members are

away from them. So social media is the online way to contact and communicate with their family.

“Social networking sites have become a very important aspect in student’s life, Internet

use has grown considerably in the last decade.” 14 But it becomes problematic because of

uncontrolled use of social media that become addiction. Social Media addiction is uncontrolled

14
(Abdulahi, Samadi, Gharleghi) A Study on the Negative Effects of Social Networking Sites Such as Facebook among Asia Pacific University Scholars in Malaysia
September 2014

23
use and nonstop using of social media that become part of a person’s life or daily a daily routine

of users.

4.3 Signs of Social Media Addiction

As with the alcohol or caffeine, once a person can’t handle or controlled he / she may

addict to it. Here are some signs to look for that indicates a problem with social media.

1. Spending more than one hour daily at social media sites. A person should not spend too much

in using social media and he/ she should half an hour daily.

2. Checking Facebook whenever possible. Some people leave this networking site open and

switch back and forth to it. There are people who are every minute or hour checking their social

networking accounts, sometimes even a person is busy he/she may time in checking and surfing

on social media.

3. Over- Sharing. In this age many people are very concerned about their privacy, some people

are sharing very private information or photos with their Facebook friends and other social

networking site. A possible reason here is for them to gain approval or acknowledgement from

peers. It is sometimes called the need for social affirmation.

4. Hearing from friends and family that you are spending too much time on the social networking

sites. Once your family members or friends notice that you are using too much or focusing too

much on social it is a sign that you have social media addiction, because they notice that it is

uncontrolled use of social media.

24
5. Interference with school performance. Too much use social media can reduce work

performance and may lead a lower school grades.

6. Withdrawal symptoms if you try to cut down on the time you spend on social media.

7. Obsessive thoughts about “friends” or other aspect of the social media. A sign of addiction in

which you spend too much deciding what to post, updates on a page and how to answer the

friends. Thinking a happy, clever and fun ideas or statements, even it is not the way or what

really feel. However, people don’t want to lose their friends or afraid that their friend may not

continue if they might know. Example of this is thinking for almost fifteen minutes about what to

type for a status update. Afterwards, do you eagerly anticipate how others will respond to it?

8. Losing sleep to go on Facebook and other sites. Once a person engaged in different social

networking sites it is bad enough because it may interfere the daily works and studies. It is bad

because of staying up in late nights just to surf on Facebook or others sites. And also, waking up

early just to use different sites and check for updates. Staying late at nights is one of the

characteristic and sign of overusing of social media.

9. Escapism. “Escapism is an activity or form entertainment that allows people to forget about

the real problems of life.”15Some people use social media to entertain themselves because of

feeling down and social media is the only way to feel better.

10. Looking for new Facebook friends in an almost competitive way. There are some people

have lot of friends, because the more friends they have the more pressured for them to maintain

the appropriate etiquette for friends to remain entertaining. So, the competition in adding friends

may result in a vicious cycle of increasing tensions, and worse addiction outcomes.

15
Meriam Webster

25
11. Reporting. There are some people who often appear on our newsfeed with some status

updates and posting photos and videos. Their posts tend to be on very mundane matters which

they report what they doing in any given moments and their daily routines.

26
 CHAPTER 5

Young people nowadays rely heavily on social media for communication, interaction,

and dissemination of information. In fact, there are upsides to social media, such as a feeling of

community and being able to reach out to others almost anywhere at any time. Social media has

provided access to opinions and information that can expand our minds and points of view.

Everyone uses Social Media in our daily lives, but we all know that Social Media has a positive

and negative impact. Some research even suggests that certain platforms may have a positive

impact on mental health by providing opportunities for connections that may otherwise not

happen; others suggest social media behavior and posts can be useful identifiers or predictors of

depression.

There’s a darker side to how social media can affect us, however. Probably, the more

time you spend on social media, the more likely you are to suffer from mental health issues. This

is true for children and teens that use social media for spending their time; however, prolonged

and excessive use presents dangers that have become more evident in adults as well. Multiple

studies have begun to focus on the disturbing association between online social networking and a

variety of negative feelings and psychiatric disorders.

27
5.1 Positive Effects of Social Media

1. Social Media can enhance connectivity to others

“It is an effortless way to connect with the like-minded people.”16We are just a single

click away from more than 7 billion people in the world. Different location and religion, social

networks are helpful in reviving and preserving relationships with other people. In other words,

we can communicate to the world.

These effects contribute their psychology and social lives. Nowadays, a great number of

people live in the world alone. They cannot find any person to share their feelings and their

opinions about different issues. Social network sites help them to join groups of people and

express themselves.

2. Spreading Kindness and Awareness

Everyone uses various social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

In terms of accessibility we can access everything easily through online. Using Social Media,

they can be a voice for all the voiceless. They can raise an awareness that is timely and relevant

to help someone by using social networking sites. They can do this through starting awareness

pages for minority groups, or advocating equal rights through posting or sharing supportive

messages.

16
Varun Sharma“7 ways that social media is affecting us positively” 2018

28
3. Educational Benefits

Most Students use social media platforms such as Google in order to complete

collaborative assignments. “It provides a space for them to share and discuss ideas, plan and

delegate tasks, and upload and provide feedback on completed works.” 17 So, literally social

media can be an educational resource – by using social networking sites such as YouTube and

Wikipedia being heavily referenced as a source of information.

5.2 Negative Impact of Social Media

Although there are some benefits of usage of social networking sites but there also some

results of usage of social network sites indicate that they turn into harmful facilities for everyone.

There is no person to check out their actions on social network sites. Social networks provide a

virtual life to the students, those students who not even speak in front of anyone could feel

freedom in their virtual life. When they use social networks they feel like in heaven but this

addiction kills their inner self confidence forever. The harmful effect of social networking is

creating addiction. As mentioned before, creating addiction is the main negative aspect of the

social network sites.

Another harm of use of social network sites is health problems. Health problems which

are caused by usage of SNSs or Social Networking Sites are related to addiction. Everyone lose

their health because of excessive use of social network sites. They spend lots of time to be online

17
Robyn Treyvaud “The Positive effects of Social Media among Teenagers” 2017

29
and they look at the same screen for hours. These health problems affect their lives and

education negatively. As a result, although there are some benefits of social networking for

students actually there are as much as damages of social networking. All of these effects should

be considered together to decide whether social networking sites are harmful or beneficial to

students.

1. Emotional Impact

People use social media for many things, such as socializing, finding and sharing

information. Some of these activities are fairly neutral while others may cause strong emotions.

“Positive connections with people are important for your mental and even physical health.

There’s plenty of evidence that social isolation is associated with a shorter life span, not to

mention a diminished quality of life. While interacting with people on social media is not

enough, and not a substitute for live interactions, it can be beneficial nonetheless.”18

On the other hand, social media can cause stress and other negative emotions. The issue

of cyber-bullying or any bullying done through the use of technology or any electronic means is

a good example of this. There are also people who are attached to trolling or arguing about

everything from politics to sports. If interacting on social media causes stress, it’s not good for

your health.

2. Impact on Physical Health

18
“Robyn Treyvaud” The Positive effects of Social Media among Teenagers, 2017

30
  Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. If you do too much keying, you may experience problems

that affect your hands or wrists. There are also specific problems associated with keying

on mobile phones, which can strain the tendons of your fingers. These problems aren’t all

caused by social media. It can just as easily be caused by having to type term papers for

school or reports at work.

 Eye problems. You can get eyestrain from staring at screens for too long.

 Fatigue. This is another symptom of overusing social media. If you’re staying up too late

posting on Twitter of Face book, you may be losing valuable sleep.

 Lack of exercise. Social media can cut into time you might otherwise be spending

outdoors or exercising.

Social Media can affect your emotional wellness. Psychologists, psychiatrists and other

healthcare professionals have seen a drastic uptake in patients who feel they’re being adversely

affected by their online social activity.

3. Impact in our Mental Health

Here are some key indicators to be aware of:

• Low or decreased self-esteem during or after using social media.

• Negatively comparing you to others via their social media content.

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• Repetitively focusing on your own shortcomings or distress while viewing others’

social media feeds.

• Frequently feeling envious of others while engaged with social media.

• Using social media as your prime leisure activity.

• Feeling disconnected from friends and family or not interacting with them in person as

often as you normally would.

• Decrease in ability to concentrate.

• Increased or unusual social anxiety when interacting with people offline.

• Feeling a need to share everything you’re doing offline on social media.

• Experiencing the negative emotional experience, “FOMO” (Fear of Missing Out)

during or after viewing others’ online activity.

• Consciously, consistently using social media as a distraction to avoid or suppress

unpleasant emotions.

• Irregular or disordered sleeping patterns.

• Increase in fatigue and/or stress during or after using social media.

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5.3 Social Media leads to Disorder

Social Media Anxiety Disorder is a mental illness that is related to the generalized social

anxiety, which acquires when the social media interferes with mental and physical health of a

human being.

Some people tend to be addicted to the connections they make through various social

media. Although some online activities can be healthy and equally useful, many people tend to

do something for gaining relaxation like joining various forums for advice. Nevertheless, when a

person has too many virtual friends on Social Media and no one in reality, problems will surely

develop.

5.4 Signs and Symptoms for Social Media Anxiety Disorder

This disorder can be diagnosed with various symptoms and these include the following

characteristics:

 Being in a group of friends and interrupting the conversation just to speak about the latest

comment on their Facebook update.

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  Stay away from social situations with family and friends just to keep up with the news on

Twitter or Facebook.

 Checking the Social Media sites like Facebook and Twitter amidst an important chore to

see if someone has left a comment or not.

 Adding strangers haphazardly to your Twitter and Facebook accounts.

 Spending a long time like 8 or more hours a day, on social networking sites.

 Feeling a kind of attachment to the phone and computer like nothing else is more

important than those are.

 Tend to get anxious when comments or pictures are not tagged or posted in right manner.

5. 5 SOCIAL MEDIA: LONELINESS and ANXIETY

Most students use social media on a daily basis, it’s important to learn how social media

can cause depression and other problems. It’s not uncommon for students to have their

smartphones on hand at all times, and being connected with their friends can seem like a positive

experience at first.

5.6 LONELINESS

Loneliness appears to have a reciprocal relationship with social anxiety. Social anxiety is

an anxiety problem where a person has an excessive and unreasonable fear of social situations.

“Social anxiety is known to facilitate loneliness; but loneliness also increases social anxiety and

34
feelings.”19How social Media be involved? Feelings of loneliness increase fewer friends that an

individual has. Today, Social Media such as Facebook and Twitter are a significant contributor

to the friendship networks of young people. Instead of interacting to others in the real world, we

interact to others through Social Media. So, it’s easy to see how technology use can take the

place of more traditional social interaction or more significantly, one’s feelings of loneliness and

alienation.

5.7 SOCIAL MEDIA ANXIETY

If you get anxious when you cannot check your Facebook or Twitter account, believe it

or not, that is a real disorder. “Social Media Anxiety is a mental health condition that is similar

to Social Anxiety Disorder.” 20 Anxiety Disorders are one of the most common metal health

disorders. The more technology, the more we get stressed. Most people who have social media

accounts do not get easily nervous or stressed out when they are not able to check their

notifications every minute. But for those who have social media anxiety disorder, just being

away from their Facebook or Twitter account for a few minutes can cause severe anxiety. It can

reduce your ability to enjoy real life.

If you are spending more hours on using your social media accounts, and not going

enough time to work, study or spend time with loved ones you may have Social Media Anxiety

Disorder and it really affect your health, both physically and mentally.

19
Graham C.L. Davey Ph.D.“Social Media Loneliness and Anxiety to young people” 2016
2020
“THE DANGERS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH”

35
5.8 DEPRESSION

The term ‘Facebook Depression’ has been used to explain the potentially negative impact

of social media on young people. It describes the depressive symptoms which can occur when

young people spend a great amount of time on social media. The most commonly cited effect is

depression, or depressive symptoms, studies suggests that greater social media use is linked to

lower moment-to-moment happiness and life satisfaction. Everyone might be familiar with the

experience of scrolling through their Facebook feed, only to feel like everyone else’s lives are

better than yours.

Social Comparison is one of the effects that occur for a range of reasons, the comparison

of one’s own life to friends on social media sites can result in a young people to inadequate or

worse-off than others. Indirect causes of depression have also been identified with social media

use, such as young people developing body dysmorphia, which can lead to depression.

5.9 Positive Effects of Social Media on Students’ Academic Life

The usage of social network sites has also positive effects on students’ academic lives. As

we look at the effects of social network sites on students, some of them help these people to

increase their success in their academic lives.

36
 One of the benefits of its on academic life is to develop the relationship between teachers

and students. As this relationship increases, students become more successful in school because,

by using social networking, students can contact with their teachers and they can ask whatever

they want about course or any topic. It helps students’ learning process. Students’ motivation is

more important factor of education process. High level of motivation leads students to become

more successful.

The other way to turn social network sites into beneficial facilities for academic life is

that students can create online courses and discussions about lessons. In this way, an online

course platform helps students to discuss some topic and reach a conclusion by themselves. They

can have their own thoughts about some topics and they can discuss them with their teachers

during class time. All of these factors cause to think about benefits of social networking on

students’ academic lives. In fact, as an educational tool, social media enriches learning by giving

both students and teachers the opportunity to connect in new and very exciting ways thereby

encouraging flexible mode of learning. Social media benefits students by connecting them to one

another on assignments and class projects.

5. 10 Negative Impacts of Social Media on Students’ Academic Life

Although some of social network sites’ positive effects on students’ academic lives,

actually there are various harms of Social Networking Sites on students’ academic success. The

37
main harm of social networking is creating an addiction. Students are also not able to get rid of

this addiction during lecture hours therefore, their concentration decreases and this negatively

affects their ability to learn new topics.

Social Media can grab the total attention and concentration of the students instead of

studying, they use their time for useless chatting, time killing by random searching and not doing

their jobs. Inevitably, their exam results fall down dramatically. Their short-time memories are

affected negatively because of use of mobile phone. As a result, usage of mobile phone during

lecture hours has a significant effect on students’ exam results and memories. Addiction is the

main negative effect of social networking on Students’.

In this case, addiction causes bad time management to do home tasks and study lessons.

Students do not fulfil their responsibilities because, students spend a major part of their times on

social network sites.

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 CHAPTER 6

Starting the introduction of social media, the student’s academic moved to a dimension

and several studies have affirmed that social media plays an important role on students. Most

students use social media because they need to for their school works, homework and research

activity. Also students used social media forentertainment; get information, shared information

and many more. In this study many reason pose why students use social media and tend to

addiction.

6.1 Ways to Avoid Social Media Disorder

There are different disorders that we can acquire or we already acquired because

of too much used of social media. Student might or have a Social Media Depression, Anxiety

and Loneliness disorder. If we really want some changes and care to ourselves there are some

ways and rules to avoid and limits the use of social media and social media disorder.

1. Reach out, offline.

To limit the use of social media we should change some routine by replacing the

social time into face-to-face activity and conversation with family and friends. In this case, when

you are with others you should put down your phone and other devices. Having a face- to- face

conversation with friends is much fun than conversation in chat.

39
2. Tune up your mind and body.

When you feel that you need social media make something better than that. Have

some exercise or some meditation. Going outside for some fresh air, having an activity that

makes your mood positive and boost is the best thing to do. We should find a healthy habit and

hobby, also get some sleep. Having a normal sleeping will make a good mental health.

3. Unplug and erase.

If you really want to avoid the addiction of social media use take some time away

from internet to remove the possible temptation of logging on your favorite social networking

site. Also, uninstalling apps, removing shortcuts from your homescreen and bookmarks on

browsers will be a good thing. We should wait to achieve this because this will be longer and

requires more effort. Remember, sometimes, out of sight, out of mind really makes things true.

4. Set firm boundaries.

In limiting the social media use, set a limits in advance for how many times a day

and for how long you will spend online especially when you engage on social media. Set a timer

that will help you and limit the social interactions to one device. So keep away the platforms that

bring you down and evoke negative responses.

5. Get support.

40
 There are people will support you, your family, friends, and classmates and

teachers. So, ask some help support to them so that you can achieve the avoidance and

limitations of social media use. Remember, you’re not alone.

Many of us complain about how little time we have to do the things we want to do: be

outside, play sport, work on passion projects, see friends and family. But if you added up all the

hours you spend staring into a screen how much more time do you think you’d have? Honestly?

A lot of us already know how much of a negative impact social media is having on our lives, but

very few of us seem capable of actually doing anything about it.

We're becoming dissatisfied with the things we achieve, see and do because, as soon as

we go online, we see someone who has achieved, seen or done something better. To overcome

this problem, we should have this “new normal life” where we going to achieve something make

our life into a colorful, adventurous, exciting, good-looking and perfect in all time. This will be

the norms to make a right and new life for everybody. If you want to attain some real personal

growth this year, you're going to have to start getting comfortable being a little uncomfortable.

So here are the suggestions to prevent the social media addiction and strategies, ways and

tips for every users of social media to avoid and lessen the rate of users especially students

whose have this kind of disorder.

41
6.2 Treatment for social media anxiety and depression disorder

Treating a person with social media anxiety disorder and depression is depending on its

symptoms experiences. The treatment should be a medical attention and cognitive therapies.

Therapies activities include:

 Being responsive or having an understanding of the problem.

 Dedication to cognitive treatment to fully carry it.

 Progress of methods and putting them to practice that later become habitual.

 Partaking in a social anxiety crowd to communicate with others who are facing

similar instances.

Dr. Milan Balakrishnan, a psychiatrist, mentioned some techniques to contribute a healthy use

social media and lessen the possible anxiety and depression disorder.

 Consult someone who uses social media broadly.

 Be conscious of privacy and security settings that will protect the personal information.

 Start communicating in a gradual way and eventually increase the count of friends.

 Build up a profile gradually.

 Controlled use and maintain a safe balance between real as well as social life.

Through this treatment and suggestion for social media anxiety and depression disorder it

may cause some changes in the brain of individual. The beliefs and thought s that are recorded as

the symptoms of this disorder can be altered with this cognitive treatment. The aim of this is to

be aware the individuals of the disorder and emotions that are associated with this disorder.

42
6.3 Tips to overcome social media anxiety and depression disorder

1. Admit the problem

Anxiety and depression disorder is difficult to treat, especially today the social media

networking as a model of success. To overcome this disorder, we should identify the problem,

admit it, and try to solve it. Be honest especially in using social media and what you put on your

social media. Try to avoid putting self- sabotaging comments of yourself in the hope of getting

positive response to build your self-esteem.

2. Stop comparing yourself

If you really want to overcome the anxiety and depression disorder, you should stop

comparing yourself to others. Humans are very insatiable; they try doing more than to others.

The most important here is looking back in your journey and compare it with your current state.

This will make you good because you go far in your life and also there is always be someone out

there who is better than you so stop comparing.

3. Socialize more in real life

People nowadays are addicted to social media where they focus more on holding their

phones than talking and sharing their thoughts in person. We feel anxious when our friends

aren’t responsive as normal and that where social anxiety set in. So to overcome this disorder we

should strengthen our real life relationship because the social media friends won’t be there and

may be the reason of this disorder.

43
4. Take a break

It is important also to take a break in social media especially when you realize batting

social media anxiety and depression. One of the advisable is to disengage from social media and

helpful by setting a specific time and limits for you daily or weekly in using social media. This

will make you comfortable and the best alternative way to keep yourself occupied over time.

5. Embrace Some Alone-Time

One of the basic ways to overcome is to have a quiet and relaxing time by yourself. It

doesn’t mean you’re a loner or a sad person because being lonely is different from wanting to be

alone which is a quite healthy. Have some walk and be alone with no distraction from your

mobile phone and social media will gives you clear mind, focus and think more clearly.

6. Focus on your Passion

It is not too late to develop your hobbies, instead of checking your social media and

thinking someone else doing that is better than you, have or find something that you are

passionate about and focus on them. Social media can be distracting so this will help you to give

a sense of direction and fulfilment.

If you notice someone that is engaged with social media and seems to be have this kind

of disorder it is important to support and help them. First, be there for them. By letting them to

know that they are not alone, you will help to curb their social media habits and participate in the

activities that will change their time online. Be patient especially when they found more friends’

offline and listen on what and how they’re feeling.

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6.4 Tips to parents to ensure the safety of kids in social media

“As a parent or guardian, you can help to ensure your kids stay safe in
all of their social media dealings by:

1. Discussing the risks and possible effects of social media, so they can
make more informed decisions when online. For guidance, resources
such as The Door that’s not Locked, created by Canadian Centre for
Child Protection, helps parents educate their children on the risks of
online sharing, and what they should be doing to protect themselves
online.

2. Having positive discussions with them about self-acceptance and

self-esteem. Explain the dangers of social comparison and approval-
seeking both on and offline. For support, look at resources from
Canada’s Centre for Digital and Media Literacy. Their website
provides support to parents who are looking to discuss the potential
effect social media can have on self-esteem and self-acceptance.

3. Setting and enforcing boundaries regarding the amount of time

spent online, and what is acceptable information to post. Kids who use
social media for over two hours a day are more likely to rate their
mental health as “fair” or “poor” when compared to other users. Be
sure your young ones unplug, switch off devices or password protect
Internet access when the agreed upon time limits are up.

4. Working in tandem with their school, administrators, local and

national organizations to draft or get support with age and
curriculum-appropriate guidelines for the healthiest and safest types of
platforms for social media interactions.

5. Telling them exactly what course of action to take and who to tell if
they feel unsafe or threatened due to any online interaction. Social
media has become an integral part of our kids’ relationships, lives and

45
 education; even very young students are often prompted to bring
devices to school as part of new curriculums that frequently include
online socializing. There’s no avoiding it, so safeguarding children and
educating them on what is considered a healthy use of social media is
crucial.”21

21 “THE DANGERS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH”

46
 CONCLUSION

In the end of the research, the research found out that a lot about the impact of social

media among students. Most of the students spend most of their time for surfing on the internet.

Students today is growing up with this new technology and therefore think that socializing

through this media as a primary communication for today’s life. They cannot stay away from

their smartphones for long period of time because they attached to communicating or interacting

through social media. We conclude that the impacts and effects of social media can leads to

disorder. Students take these technological opportunities for granted and let it cause unneeded

problem in their lives. Addiction is most common harmful effects of social media that the

students facing right now. Students that uses different social media flatforms such as Facebook,

Twitter, and Instagram are more prone to anxiety, loneliness and depression just from being

addicted to social networking and lack of human contact or socializing in the real world.

This thesis showed reasons behind the social media and social media disorder which are

derived from this. It helps us to understand that social media is not just one dimensional issue. It

can be seen as a beneficial facility from one side of the topic, but also it can be seen harmful

facility from other side of the topic. There are social media disorder that should explain to be

aware for the possible harm that social media bring to every user. However, this paper indicates

that the harms of social media are more important than the benefits of it. To save teenagers’ and

young adults’ academic lives especially students, parents, teachers and authorities should

collaborate patiently. It seems that the only way to decrease harms of social media is this

collaboration.

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 RECOMMENDATION

Social Media can be a great way to connect with people, but you must not neglect the

importance of communication with others. Never let these social media flatforms take away your

precious time or control your life; you should be the one that controls them as a tool.

To all teenagers, students and those people who use and addicted to social media, you

have to control and prevent the possible effects that may cause to disorder. As we based on the

survey towards the students of Saint Augustine Academy ages 15-18, they spent more than six

hours using and surfing on different social networking sites. Social media may cause emotional,

physical and mental illness that leads to social media disorder.

Although, social media has a positive effect, it may be a source of information and ideas,

helps student to improve their creativity and imagination, and also, social media helps the student

especially in their research works.

So if you find yourself spending too much time on social media and addicted to it, learn

to cope up and overcome the addiction and have a full determination to avoid the social media

addiction that leads social media disorder by self- treatment through socializing in real life,

having an alone time, developing new hobbies like outdoor activities and limit the use of social

media.

We are encouraging everyone especially users and parents to lessen and minimize the

effects of social media and influence the teenagers and students to focus on their studies and

enhance the academic performances.

48
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“THE DANGERS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH”

50