EXPLORING THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA USE AMONGST YOUNG ADULTS

The study sought to explore the psychological effects of social media use amongst young adults which would then contribute to a more profound understanding of the complex relationship between social media usage and the mental health and emotional well-being of young adults. This would then provide parents, mental health practitioners and every other individual with valuable insights, the study adopted a qualitative research approach along with phenomenological research designs. The sampling technique used was convenience sampling where a number of 10 participants consisting of both males and females were interviewed using a semi-structured interview with open-ended questions. The researcher opted for three ethical and legal considerations; that is informed consent; ensuring participant confidentiality by deciding to use pseudonyms in place of the participants’ names; and minimising harm to participants. Data was presented in tables and graphs and analyzed through the use of thematic analysis. Findings from the study was that using social media does lead to psychological effects such as self-esteem, depression, anxiety and loneliness and that despite its negative effects social media has become a necessity in the lives of young adults. Recommendations from the study included the following: need to encourage technological literacy and the promotion of healthy social media habits.