Social and psychological costs of problematic use of social media: users and gratification perspective

This research investigates the adverse effects of social media use on the psychological well-being of youth. 423 university students in Pakistan participated in the survey. The patient health questionnaire (PHQ-8) was used to measure depression as a negative indicator of mental health, the UCLA loneliness scale was used to measure loneliness, and two mini versions of the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) were used to measure self-reported social anxiety (SA). Uses and gratification theory was utilised to explain the underlying relationships among variables within the study. Data were analysed using SmartPLS 4 employing the structural equation modelling (SEM) technique. The research findings reveal that problematic social media use was positively related to depression, SA, and loneliness. SA and loneliness mediated the link between problematic social media use (PSMU) and depression. Despite the limitations of a cross-sectional study, this research sheds light on a critical issue, namely excessive use of social media among young people, which not only causes SA and loneliness but also harms their mental well-being. The research on this issue is scarce, especially in developing countries. Parents and policymakers need to consider this issue more fully and educate young people appropriately on the positive use of social media.