Youth Attitudes Towards the effects of social media addiction A study on college students in the  United Arab Emirates

Fokiya Akhtar; Fawzia Abdulla Alali

doi:10.35516/Hum.2025.7921

Authors

Fokiya Akhtar College of Communication and Media Sciences, Zayed University, United Arab Emirates https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8473-8736
Fawzia Abdulla Alali College of Communication, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3983-8404

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35516/Hum.2025.7921

Keywords:

Social media, youth, addiction, distraction.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to understand youth’s attitudes toward the effects of social media usage and its risk factors. It also investigates the impact of social media addiction on youth, and determines the mediating factors in this relationship, such as ‘FOMO’ (fear of missing out) and nocturnal social media usage.

Methods: For the purpose of this research, 327 university students were surveyed using the Social Media Addiction Scale, the FOMO Scale, the Nocturnal Social Media Use Scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Index Scale.

Results: The results reveal statistically significant correlations between high social media usage and adverse effects on mental health, social relationships, and increased anxiety. The study shows that higher social media usage correlates with increased acknowledgment of addiction to the internet and media entertainment. Moreover, it unveils a statistically significant correlation between frequent social media use and the perception of self-esteem and indicates a strong correlation between social media usage on the one hand and withdrawal symptoms and tolerance on the other.

Conclusions: The study concludes that social media platforms have become an integral part in the daily lives of youth worldwide. It also pinpoints some negative consequences of excessive social media use on adolescents’ health and physical activity, including addiction and other relevant issues.

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