Digital evolution: Investigating the dynamic interactions of learners with social media

Abstract

The effects of digitization and globalization have led to amazing advancements in internet and smartphone technologies. Particularly as the number of users rises, smartphones have emerged as a necessity for young people as well as kids. In this environment, the growing incidence of behavioral problems among young individuals has become an unavoidable consequence attributed to the growing number of users and the proliferation of diverse social media (SM) platforms. Therefore, concern about internet misuse and the utilization of SM in a harmful manner has emerged. This phenomenon has an important effect on the social habits of young persons, and it is also associated with the development of mental illnesses. Additionally, alongside the emergence of significant challenges in the social world of individuals in the college-age demographic, there are instances of deficiencies in their study habits. Hence, the primary objective of our study is to investigate the SM patterns among college learners and evaluate the impact of SM on learners across multiple factors. The data for this research was collected using an online survey administered to a sample of 355 college learners enrolled in educational institutions in Haryana. The research incorporated the use of Personal Information Form and Social Media Addiction Scales specifically designed for both young people and adult populations. The data analysis was conducted using SPSS software programs. In the evaluation of research data, an important relationship was observed between the duration of SM usage among college learners and their performance on SM addiction assessments, including individuals of all genders. The prohibited nature of learners' SM use at the college has been found to hurt their social relationships and academic performance.