Investigating the differential effects of social media addiction on teenagers’ mental health: A study of high school learners in the KZN Province

Abstract

In today's digital age, teenagers are growing up in a digital culture where social media platforms are prevalent and substantially influence various parts of their lives. This study sought to investigate the effects of social media addiction on the mental health of teenage learners at Sacred Heart Secondary School (SHSS) in the KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. The study sought to provide vital insights into how social media influence the mental health of high school teenagers and to identify strategies to lessen these effects, particularly for teenagers in rural schools like SHSS. As a boarding school, teenagers are often compelled to seek connections beyond their immediate environment, making this investigation especially relevant. To address the research problem and to achieve the objectives, a quantitative research approach and descriptive research design were employed, with 113 teenage learners selected through a stratified technique from SHSS. The respondents in this survey provided feedback using a self-administered questionnaire with both closed-ended and open-ended questions, and the results were coded using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 3.0.0.0 (172) and presented in graphs and tables. The results indicated that teenagers spend at least 1-3 hours on social media per day, suggesting a significant level of engagement that could influence mental health outcomes. Furthermore, the study findings established that excessive use of social media can lead to diverse effects on the mental health of teenagers, including disrupted sleep patterns, difficulty in concentration or decision-making, feelings of nervousness or being tense and anxious, often because of stress. Additionally, a relatively small but significant portion of teenagers are affected by cyberbullying, also indicating the importance of addressing cyberbullying proactively, as it can have serious consequences for teenagers’ psychological well-being even if only a small number of teenagers is affected. The study also highlighted that although excessive use of social media can be associated with diverse negative effects, positive feelings of connection and support can also be found, which can be beneficial for their mental health. Moreover, the study found that learners from higher-income backgrounds often engage with a variety of platforms, which contributed to higher anxiety levels. Based on these findings, the research sought to add to the growing body of knowledge regarding social media use in South African high schools and provide practical recommendations, i.e. parents monitoring their kids screen time to assist in managing their social media usage and protecting their mental well-being.