The Impact of Social Media Use on Young Adults’ Quality of Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic in South India

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of social media increased. Social media was shown to have both positive and negative effects on users. Social media use can negatively affect mental health and it can also lead to addiction. On the other hand, using social networks has helped people stay connected with friends and family during the COVID-19 pandemic. To analyze the impact of social media use among young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, an online survey was conducted with 231 university students in South India. It was explored which type of social media use, such as using social media to connect with family and friends, as compared to other uses, was associated with an increased quality of life (QoL). However, there was a positive association between QoL and using social media to obtain information and for news. The intensity of use was not associated with the level of QoL.