Chapter I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

It is inevitable in today’s generation to be addicted to social media. Modern technology

has drastically changed in the past 20 years. These includes media, climate action, and health
care. There has never actually been an official diagnosis for "social media addiction." However,
social media overuse has been extremely common in recent years. Not only might it negatively
impact our mental health, but also our physical health. Social media is commonly used by people
to stay in touch with the family and friends they love. Another reason individuals stay online late
is to watch videos or simply to "kill time." Over the past ten years, the use of social media as a
pastime has been increasingly widespread. Children, teenagers, and young to middle-aged adults
all go through this. The use of social media can impair your brain in ways that are similar to
other behavioral addictions. Social media use can become compulsive for certain people. As a
result, we grow accustomed to scrolling through online posts, photographs, and videos without
noticing how adversely it impacts the important aspects of our lives.

According to some experts, 10 percent of people was estimated to be addicted to social

media in the United States. However, the use of social media in general is part of our daily lives,
as a result, people who are addicted to social media may be higher. Social media keeps us in
touch with the outside world and may seem like a fun, relaxing activity, but it can have negative
consequences on us, particularly on our brains. The time you log in to your favorite apps, there is
this called dopamine— a type neurotransmitter that is connected with pleasure, the dopamine
signals in your brain are increased.

More dopamine is released as a result of our increased use of social media. The usage of
social media, in the brain's judgment, is a pleasant activity that people are likely to continue
engaging in. A person may feel their reaction more strongly after making their own post and
receiving favorable feedback. Social media use could make you feel good or happy, but these
emotions are short lived. Similar to how your brain interacts with this “positive feelings” can
also see in other addictions. As a result, after this dopamine's feel-good effects wear off, you'll
return to the original source to feel good again. In the end, using social media as a distraction is

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not always that harmful. If you're isolated because of a sickness or at work, it might be able to
help you pass the time. Our brains identify that using social media can help us feel less lonely
when we do it more often. However, this shouldn't always be the case.

Over the last 15 years, social media has progressed a lot. About 5% of American adults
use social networking sites in the year 2005, but it has already increased to 70 percent now. The
increase in the number of users of social networking sites like, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and
other social media platforms, and the time people spent using them has gathered worries and
attention from educators, policymakers, parents, and clinicians about how social media affects
our life and mental health. Social media enables teenagers to grow their social network and to
keep contact with their far-away friends and relatives. An outlet for creativity as well. The
Common Sense Media reported that, according to more than a quarter of teens stated that “social
media is ‘extremely’ or ‘very’ important for them because it is their way of expressing
themselves artistically.”

Teens may interact with others and are free to share anything instantaneously online in
the form of images, videos, and status updates thanks to social media. They claim that they view
these social media platforms as an essential tool for connecting with and maintaining
relationships with other social media users as well as discovering more about the world. Despite
these positive aspects of social media, there are also downsides, such as drama, bullying, and the
pressure to appear better than other users in comparison to what they post about themselves
online. A survey result presented evidences that social media has a positive impact on many
aspects of teens’ lives. About 81% of teens say social media helps them to feel more updated to
what and how their friends live their lives. While 37% of them said that they feel “a lot” more
updated. Seven-in-ten teens (69%) expressed that they feel more in touch with their friends’
feelings and 68% of them said that they feel like they have people who will always support them
no matter what happens, and 71% of them stated that social media sites are places to showcase
their artistic side.

Despite all of these good effects of social media, some reported that they are affected
with the drama or that they feel pressured to show themselves online in a way they like to be.
The 45% of teens were overwhelmed by all the drama on social media, and about four-in-ten felt
pressured to post something where they felt or look good to others or something that will

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probably gain attention, comments, and likes. In addition, social media affects someone’s self-
esteem negatively. Some felt worse about their own life, according to 26% of the teens, and 4%
of them described their life to be “a lot” worse after using the platforms.

Billions of people around the world use social media to interact, share interests and have
roots of connections. On a more precise level, this platform allows individuals to communicate
with friends and families, discover new information, gain cerebral development and be
entertained. Social media has always been a huge help among the community, where you could
be democratic on what you can say through online and have common interests with other people.
Although, at the peak of what's beyond the great help of its system, one system that we must
always protect and what we always have as we carry on through life: our mental health. This
platform may promote negative experiences such as an inadequate feeling about your life or
appearance. It is easy to post online, however it is hard to take up words that harms us or words
that pushes us off the edge of sadness. The said platform also gives negative effect on one's
mental health. The frequent use of this platform causes mental disorders. In numerous studies, it
is found that the over usage of social media increases the risk for depression, anxiety, loneliness,
self-harm, and even suicidal thoughts. Although social media has enhanced our cycle of
connection, it also causes a decline in social and communication skills. However, among the
various amounts of netizens have said that they are being socially connected to others and can
ease stress, anxiety, and depression, boost self-worth, provide comfort and joy, prevent
loneliness, and even add years to your life.

This study focuses on giving awareness, solutions and knowledge on the perspective of
one's mind towards social media. Its purpose allows people to learn more about the deepest
depths of social media and how numerous people will behave. And whether if it's truly a positive
effect or a negative effect for people. A beneficial study that will guide people that are affected
by social media, will also be of help to other people that are yet to begin using this platform.

The researchers decided to conduct this study in order to give further knowledge about
how social media affects the mental health. This study is beneficial to alleviate the arising
problem of social media and mental health. Social media is used by individuals to maintain
relationships with loved ones as well as to express themselves, keep in touch with close friends,
and for recreational purposes. However, sometimes this leads to envy and insecurity. Scrolling

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through the Instagram or other social networking sites offers opportunity of comparing yourself
to others. You start comparing your life to others because you see posts online of them with their
happy family, fancy vacation, opulent homes, and almost perfect bodies and skin. We start to
feel bad about ourselves and it vastly affects our self-esteem and mental health. Mental health
determines how a person can function psychologically, socially, and emotionally. Considering
how important it is in our wellbeing, it is also a must to protect and improve our psychological
health using appropriate measures. Stable mental health can improve how we live day by day
since it is concerned to many crucial human functions. Keeping your psychological wellbeing
healthy can help us stay stable and it also reduce the chances of having physical health problems.
There are a few things to consider regarding mental wellness. Some of it are emotional,
psychological, physical, and relationships. Having poor mental health can lead to substance
abuse issues because people tend to try things such as alcohols and other addictive substance and
use it as their coping mechanism to deal with problems. In order to improve your psychological
well-being, it is important to apply self-care. It is important to make sure that you always give
yourself time to rest and relax at the end of each day to give your mind some time to refresh.

Background of the Study

The researchers decided to conduct this research study titled, “Social Media: Its Impact
on Junior High School Students’ Mental Health” to know why and how social media affects the
mental health of the students. And to determine whether it affects them positively or negatively.
In order to conduct a study and come up with a solution on how to address the problem that has
arisen, the researchers are looking for answers to those questions.

Compulsive use of social media creates a negative and unending cycle. People tend to use
social media when they feel sad, depressed, anxious, or stressed— as their coping mechanism, to
distract themselves and avoid these negative feelings. Though, the use of social media increases
the fear of missing out (FOMO), and other negative feelings like inadequacy, lack of satisfaction,
and withdrawn. As a result, these negative feelings of yours drastically affects your mood and it
triggers the symptoms of your depression, anxiety, and stress. If that happens, the symptoms will
get worse and worse, which will make you turn to social media to make yourself feel better, and
the process will continue.

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 The researchers hoped to find a solution to this problem of the masses that was
developing, to lessen the detrimental impacts of social media on mental health, and to create a
fresh start as people dealt with this issue. The researchers would also like to close a research gap
left by previous studies, which addresses the question of how to reduce its negative effects.

Statement of the Problem

The researchers of this study seek to find the impacts of social media to the mental health
of the junior high school students of Colegio de Sto. Niño de Bustos. As presented in the various
preceding studies and articles reviewed, we can see the profound negative impact of social media
to the mental health. Since it turns up that social media affects the mental health, it seems
important that the effects of social media on the mental health be researched. These are the
following questions that the researchers want to answer.

1. What is the demographic profile of the respondents?

a. Gender
b. Age
c. Grade/Section
2. How often does the student engage to social media?
3. Why do you think social media is important to our lives?
4. Why do you think social media affects our mental health positively and/or
negatively?
5. How do you think the arising problem of social media and mental health be
alleviated?

Theoretical Framework

This research is based on the theory of Stockland (2014): Displaced Behavior Theory.
This theory discusses the concept of those people who use social media compulsively does not
have time to have conversation with people in person, which affects our mental health. A
person's relationships with other people will be affected if they are isolated for an extended
period of time; they will begin to wither or fade. You start to feel awkward. In conclusion, this
theory states that having no physical activity and face-to-face communication affects our mental
health negatively. In relation to this research study, the researchers believe that the students' use

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of social media negatively impacts their mental health to a greater extent the more time they
spend on it.

Conceptual Framework

This part of the documentation discusses the conceptual framework of the study. The
conceptual framework is used in research to outline possible courses of action or to present a
preferred approach to project. The researchers will use the theoretical frame of the study as the
basis of designing the conceptual framework.

Junior High School

Social Media
Students’ Mental Health

Figure 1
Conceptual Framework
This figure outlines the impacts of social media to the mental health of the junior high
school students of Colegio de Sto. Niño de Bustos. The first variable is social media: It is a web-
based platform for communication that connects users of the internet through information
exchange and consumption. The second variable is mental health: It is the way a person feels,
thinks, and acts. People’s daily living, relationships, and physical health can also be affected by
our mental health.
Assumptions of the Study

The research study is anchored on the impacts of social media to the mental health of the
junior high school students of Colegio de Sto. Niño de Bustos. The following assumptions were
made:

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 1. The researchers assumed that the respondents would completely understand the topic of
the study and the questions that would be asked.
2. The researchers assumed that the respondents would be honest and transparent in
answering the questions given to them.
3. The researchers assumed that the instruments to be used would be effective and be able to
present accurate or reliable responses.
4. The researchers would provide the respondents a thorough explanation of the study's
objectives.

Hypothesis of the Study

Social media is very important to students because it allows them to communicate with
their parents and other family members. It is a source of knowledge and answers on the topic as
well. Yet using social media has consequences. For that reason, the researchers carried out this
study and formed their hypothesis: Compulsive use of social media negatively affects the junior
high school students’ mental health. Furthermore, the study's null hypothesis states that even
after accessing social media for a longer period of time, there is no impact on the students'
mental health.

Scope and Delimitations of the Study

This research study seeks to find the impacts of social media on the mental health of the
junior high school students of Colegio de Sto. Niño de Bustos. This study will have its
limitations that should be considered, because this study will only focus on the impacts of social
media to the mental health, and for the process of conducting this research study to stay in-order
regarding its topic.
The researchers will be conducting a survey and the numbers of respondents that will be
taking part in this survey will be 40 students in total, and for the researchers to know the
different point of views of the chosen respondents studying at Colegio de Sto. Niño de Bustos,
Inc., enrolled in the academic year 2022-2023, regarding the topic chosen by the researchers that
is related to their research study. The selected respondents will be from each grade level in junior
high school and the identity of the respondents will not be revealed and will remain confidential
with the reason of the researchers wanting to respect their privacy. The respondents will be given
fifteen to twenty minutes in answering the survey questionnaire that will be given to them. The

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collecting of data and other needed information will be conducted at Colegio de Sto. Niño de
Bustos, Inc.
Limitations of the Study

Even if the study's objectives were met, there are certain inescapable limitations. Firstly,
this research is conducted only in a slightly small number of students because of the amount of
enrolled Junior High School students in Colegio de Sto. Niño de Bustos, Inc. in academic year
2022-2023. Hence, the research should have included more respondents in order to have much
interesting results. Second, due to the school's regulations, students are not allowed using any
technology that could lead to them scrolling through social media during class and their schedule
covers almost the entire day, thus it might affect how much they spend time using social
media. Third, the researchers may not have enough time to look for more data, evidences, and
results due to deadline given. And this can affect the findings of the study. Fourth, one of the
things that hinders understanding is the language barrier. For some situations and information, a
translator and a deep understanding are required to comprehend what the information conveys.
Yet, sometimes we get inaccurate information, and some data may be lost during the translation.

Significance of the Study

The researchers come up with the study titled “Social Media: Its Impact on Junior High
School Students’ Mental Health” to benefit the following:

The students - The result will help students to identify themselves in situations, and may find
reason why their behavior is unusual. Knowledge in social media's effects and how to handle
differently.

The teachers - The given data of the study allows the teachers to have the knowledge what their
students or family are going through, and how they can understand more of them.

The parents - Similar to the teachers, this study too, will help them understand what their child
is going through and why their behavior is not intact. It will also give them information on how
to handle their children's space in a healthy procedure.

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The school – It may show this to future generations and will be able to acknowledge or
understand the students' experiences and social media's effect on them. This study, will also hold
the knowledge of how the school will approach the students who are affected by social media

The community - In this study, it is a major benefit for the community, for them to be able to
comprehend human emotions and behaviors more, and why and how social media greatly affects
their mental health daily

Definition of Terms

Netizen - a user of the internet, especially a habitual or avid one.

Inevitable - certain to happen; unavoidable.

Dopamine - a chemical released in the brain that makes you feel good.

Cerebral - of or relating to the brain or the intellect.: of, relating to, affecting, or being the
cerebrum.

Inadequate - lacking the quality or quantity required; insufficient for a purpose.

Depth - the distance from the top or surface to the bottom of something.

Alleviate - make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe.

Compulsive - resulting from or relating to an irresistible urge, especially one that is against one's
conscious wishes.

Detrimental - tending to cause harm.

Anxiety - is a feeling of fear, dread, and uneasiness.

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 Bibliography

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Center: Internet, Science & Tech.

https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2018/11/28/teens-and-their-experiences-on-social-

media/

Atske, S. (2019, December 31). 1. Teens and their experiences on social media. Pew Research

Center: Internet, Science & Tech.

https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2018/11/28/teens-and-their-experiences-on-social-

media/

Cherney, K. (2020, August 6). What Is Social Media Addiction? Healthline.

https://www.healthline.com/health/social-media-addiction

Displaced Behavior Theory - 636 Words | Bartleby. (n.d.).

https://www.bartleby.com/essay/Displaced-Behavior-Theory-PCPCHPKDAKB

Dopamine. (n.d.). Healthdirect. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dopamine

Social Media and Mental Health. (n.d.). HelpGuide.org.

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/social-media-and-mental-health.htm

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