Social Media Usage and Perception of Self

Social Media Usage and Perception of Self
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Abstract
Background: Current research emphasizes the widespread reliance of young adults on smartphones, resulting in repercussions on their mental well-being, particularly on self-esteem. This research hypothesizes a significant relationship between screen time and self-esteem.
Methodology: Ninety-two participants were recruited, including 13 males, 78 females, and one binary undergraduate participant from Boston University.
Data Collection Tools include internally reliable tools such as the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale to measure self-esteem and the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, with a Cronbach alpha of 0.84-0.88 and 0.86, respectively.
Results: The study highlights the significant gender disparity in social media addiction, with women displaying higher addiction scores. The findings reveal a moderately negative correlation between self-esteem and social media addiction, suggesting that higher self-esteem acts as a protective factor against addiction. Additionally, the study identifies a positive correlation between self-esteem and the proportion of top-used social media applications, indicating that young adults with higher self-esteem tend to engage more with these platforms. At the same time, the data did not support the hypothesis regarding the negative relationship between screen time and self-esteem.
Conclusion: The study revealed an insignificant correlation between screen time and self-esteem. This implies the significance of strategic interventions to enhance self-esteem and reduce social media addiction in young adults, promoting healthier smartphone and social media usage habits.
Introduction
In the modern era, smartphones have become the cornerstone of communication and entertainment, secondary to technological advancements. Kwon et al. (2013) explained that smartphone use has been widespread, particularly among the younger generation, utilizing this as a tool both for entertainment and educational purposes. The researchers implicated the significance of smartphone use, including convenience and a means to improve socialization. On the other hand, Serin et al. (2019) supported these findings, stating that traditional interactions have now shifted online. However, these virtual connections pose an issue as it has been connected to addiction and other mental health issues. Excessive smartphone interactions, particularly on social media platforms, have negative connotations for the behavior of the users. This is secondary to their increasing dependence on gadgets to live and be happy (Chen et al., 2023). Fabio et al. (2022) stressed that the most concerning factor is that its daily use disrupts the routine of life, leading to alterations in psychological well-being, as manifested by low self-esteem.
Statistics demonstrate an all-time high, showing that up to 1.047 billion people use smartphones in China, with 99.6% using them for internet access (Chen et al., 2023). Considering that the number of young people in colleges and universities heavily interact with these devic...