In recent years, college students have been experiencing a decline in mental health due to the overconsumption of social media. As college students enter universities, they have a “fear of missing out,” which results in them always being on social media.

Why is the Relation to Addiction?

The more students spend on social media, the worse their mental health gets, as they experience bad habits, depression, and anxiety.

Mental health is an individual’s emotional, social, and psychological well-being. It influences how someone thinks, feels, and behaves. Many people suffer from addiction and failure to disengage from substance use or behavior despite harmful physical or psychological behavior.

When an individual suffers from bad mental health, they experience anxiousness, irritability, change in sleeping schedule, loss of appetite, and change in moods. Similarly, indicators of addiction consist of being constantly on the phone, less social interaction, aggressiveness or upset when unable to be on it, and always thinking of social media.

College students use social media apps, specifically TikTok and Instagram, daily. According to Business Insider, “nearly half of Gen Z is using Instagram and TikTok for search instead of Google.” This underscores how young adults are constantly on social media, using it more than Google.

To assess the outcomes of these experiments, researchers utilized available surveys and conducted focus groups. Surveys collected data from a selected group of respondents to analyze and derive conclusions. Subsequently, focus groups were organized, involving a small number of participants who discussed their views in a guided conversation.

After the results were analyzed, survey data concluded that more than 50% of college students check social media after waking up. Next, more than 50% of participants can only survive a few hours without social media.

The focus groups’ results showed that social media impacts the mental health of college students. It was determined that athletes struggle with inadequate mental health more than regular students because of NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals, sponsorships, and endorsements. Further, the focus group and survey results showed that college students who rely heavily on social media tend to procrastinate and neglect social activities.

What recommendations can help college students?

Universities need to implement more “Mental Health” days to improve the mental health of college students. Including activities like game nights and yoga sessions in their schedule can divert students from social media, enhance their mood, and foster social interactions.

College students overuse social media, which causes them to neglect their mental health. By including these activities, they will express positive emotions. Students will have time away from their phones, which improves confidence, builds relationships, and establishes a friendly environment. Although the mental health of college students suffers due to social media, taking these initiatives can cultivate a positive atmosphere.