Prevalence of Social Media Addiction and Its Determinants Among College Students in Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu

Introduction A persistent desire to use social media platforms is an indication of social media addiction, which has an adverse impact on academic performance, mental health, and social connections. According to WHO statistics, the percentage of adolescents using social media increased from 7% in 2018 to 11% in 2022. Social media improves communication among college students, but it can also lead to misuse. Addiction affects 18.4% of students worldwide, with higher percentages in Asia. Around 36.9% of college students in India exhibit addiction-related behaviors that are connected to anxiety, eye strain, poor sleep, and decreased academic performance. Addiction trends are further influenced by location and gender disparities. In Tamil Nadu, social media is widely used; however, little is known regarding its consequences. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of social media addiction and its related factors among college students in the Chengalpattu district. Methodology A cross-sectional study was performed among students pursuing professional courses in the Chengalpattu district. A total of 320 participants were selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected using the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Descriptive statistics were used to present data in the form of tables, and the p-value was calculated, and logistic regression analysis was performed. Results Among 320 students, 253 (79.1%) were in the age group of 18-21. Of those, 116 (36.3%) were male and 204 (63.7%) were female. A total of 243 (75.9%) participants were from nuclear families and resided in cities. For at least one to four hours per day, the majority of them used Instagram as their primary social media channel, followed by YouTube and others. Of the participants, it was found that 165 (51.6%) had good self-esteem, 154 (48.4%) had low self-esteem, and 18 (5.6%) were addicted to social media. Among the participants who have been surveyed, 42 (13%) reported that their personal relationships were affected because of social media, and they were much more likely to experience relationship problems (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 4.69, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.18-7.54, p=0.027). Around 36 (11.3%) individuals with social media addiction said they used social media for more than three hours per day. People who spent more than three hours a day were substantially more likely to be addicted to social media than those who spent less than that time (AOR: 4.71, 95% CI: 1.12-7.14, p=0.023). Conclusion According to this study, college students are becoming more involved in social media, with adolescents being the most active users. Usage may be supported by towns and nuclear families. Long-term use is linked to addictive behaviors and difficult relationships, despite the low overall rates of addiction. Similar levels of self-esteem suggest different psychological effects, emphasizing the necessity of mental health awareness and support to promote better use.