Social Media has become a universal feature of adolescents lives. Exposure to screens begins early in life for many youths, with US children under age two spending an average of 42 minutes per day with screen media. By the time youth reach adolescence, most are fully immersed in a world of smartphones, computers, and social media

Background

Today is the age of information and technology, in which social media playing an important role. Although social media has a positive effect on a person but its more use also has negative effects. Several studies have revealed an association between more use of social media and poor emotional state. Social media can affect people differently.

Objective

Purpose of this present study to observe the impact of social media on mental health. Relating to depression, anxiety, and stress of adolescents.

Method

Theis study uses the survey method. A sample comprising of 100 students. Out of which 50 students use social media for less than two hours. 50 students use social media for more than two hours were randomly selected from the different schools of Aligarh district in the age range between 16 to 18 years. Depression, anxiety, and stress scales by Lovibond and Lovibond (1995) help in data collection. For analyzing the data, the mean, standard deviation, and t-test show the impact of social media on the mental health of young adults.

Result: Social Media and Adolescents

The result shows that there was a significant difference between adolescents who use social media for less than two hours. Adolescents who use social media for more than two hours on depression, anxiety, and stress level. Adolescents who use social media for more than two hours received a higher mean score on depression, anxiety, and stress (17.5, 18.02 & 17.56) as compared to the adolescents who use social media for less than two hours (9.96, 10.08 & 9.12). The t-value of depression, anxiety, and stress level was 5.39, 5.88, and 6.86, respectively. These t-values were very high to the tabular t-value at 0.01 level of significance.

Conclusion

The findings of this study show a significant difference between adolescents who use social media for less than two hours and those who use for more than two hours on depression, anxiety, and stress level. Hence, those who use social media for more than two hours have poor mental health than adolescents who use social media for less than two hours.