International School

Vietnam National University Hanoi

FINAL EXAMINATION
The Impact of Social Media on Youth Mental Health

Course: Introduction to Sociology

Lecturer: TS Nguyễn Thị Lan
Class: SOC105003

Group members
STT Full Name Student’s number
1 Bùi Mạnh Hoạt 22070970
2 Hoàng Hồng Ánh 22070852
3 Giáp Hồng Phượng 22070822
4 Đặng Lê Kim Chi 22070612
5 Nguyễn Thanh Tùng 22070824
6 Nguyễn Khánh Ly 22070918

Submission date: 11/5/2024

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 Table of content
I. Introduction ................................................................................3
II. The subjects and objects of the research ...................................3
III. Research questions ..................................................................4
IV. Data Analysis ..........................................................................5
VI . Conclusion ............................................................................11

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I. Introduction
Social networking platforms have become ubiquitous in the lives of
young people, with many dedicating significant time to them. While social
media offers undeniable benefits like fostering connections and information
sharing, concerns regarding its potential negative influence on mental health,
particularly increased rates of depression and anxiety, are growing. This
highlights the importance of this topic for researchers and the general public
alike.

Beyond the traditional scrolling through Facebook and Instagram, social

media platforms like TikTok allow teens to express themselves creatively and
connect with a global audience. This can be a valuable tool for self-discovery
and fostering a sense of belonging.

Social media can have both positive and negative effects on teen’s mental
health, especially if not used in moderation. By understanding the potential
pitfalls, teens can take steps to protect their mental health and use social media
healthily and responsibly. The purpose of research on social media on
adolescent health is multidimensional and plays an important role in better
understanding the impact of living in social environments and online
interactions on health and well-being. Social media research helps better
understand how social media platforms, as well as other forms of online
interaction, influence the mental health, emotions, and behavior of adolescents.

II. The subjects and objects of the research

This research delves into the intricate relationship between social media
platforms and the mental well-being of young people (teenagers and young
adults). Our focus lies on how young people interact with these platforms (like
Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok) – the amount of time spent, activities
engaged in, and online interactions with friends. We aim to understand the
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influence friends have on each other's social media use and how this, in turn,
affects their mental health.

To achieve a comprehensive understanding, we will employ a variety of

research methods. Surveys and questionnaires will provide direct insight into
young people's social media habits and their emotional state. Longitudinal
studies will allow us to track changes in mental health over time with social
media use. Additionally, controlled experiments will test how different social
media usage patterns impact young people's well-being. In-depth interviews
will offer valuable qualitative data on personal experiences and emotional
responses to social media.

Furthermore, the research will consider various sociodemographic

factors. We will explore how factors like location and socioeconomic
background might influence how young people are affected by social media.
Maintaining fairness and ethical research practices will be paramount
throughout the study, ensuring all participants feel safe and respected.

By employing this multifaceted approach, we hope to gain a deeper

understanding of the complex interplay between social media and youth mental
health. This knowledge will be instrumental in developing strategies to
promote responsible social media use and foster positive mental health in
young people.

III. Research questions

1) How does using social media a lot affect how young people feel?
2) Does feeling left out on social media make young people feel lonely or
sad?
3) Does using social media before bed make it hard for young people to
sleep and feel good the next day?

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4) Does using social media a lot over time make young people feel worse
about themselves?
5) Can we help young people feel better by teaching them how to use social
media in a good way?
6) What kind of support do you seek when feeling overwhelmed by social
media?
7) What impact, if any, did taking a break from social media have on your
health?

IV. Data Analysis

It can be observed that due to the benefits social networks bring, their use
is becoming more and more popular. For students, social networks have even
become a need and that is why 85.7% of people aged 18-24 use social
networks.

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 Most young people will use social networks to relax, chat and update
information. They mainly use it for entertainment. However, there are still
people who use technology to study and work, the majority of young people
use entertainment platforms such as Facebook (92.1%), Instagram (84, 1%),
TikTok (82.5%),…

Young people spend 1-6 hours on social networks a day (32.1%), in

addition, a large portion spends more than 6 hours (28.6%). Regular use of
social networks has certain negative effects on one's health, spirit, and sense of
balance in life. For example, children are addicted to games, which harms their
health and psychology, and children have early access to social networks at the

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age of 13-17 (7.1%). Achieving a balance between social media use and time
management in life depends on how it is used and how long it is used.

According to research, 55.6% answered yes to the question that spending

more than 3 hours on social networks will affect sleep. Spending too much
time on social media, especially before bed, can negatively impact your sleep.
Blue light emitted from electronic devices will make it difficult to fall asleep
and reduce the quality of sleep. It can disrupt the body's first circadian rhythm,
making it difficult to achieve deep and sufficient sleep. This is also one of the
causes of mental health problems in young people.

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 We can see that people's moods are mostly affected when looking at other
people's posts (39.7%), for example, they may feel happy when someone
shares a funny post, or negatively, can feel jealous when someone posts too
much of their success online,... There are also many other reasons but in short,
most people's mood will be affected. When using social networks, there are
both negative and positive aspects.

When using social networks, most people have occasionally compared

themselves with others (42.9%), according to a survey on why they compare
themselves with others online In society, people often say they want to know
why others can do it but they can't, that can motivate and motivate them.

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 As mentioned above, up to 44.4% of people feel more motivated in
comparison, they will push themselves to try harder so that one day they will
be posted on social networks. celebrate your success and motivate others,
which makes them happy. In addition, many people feel insecure or jealous
when compared. This is understandable because when compared, we often feel
inferior to others, thereby giving rise to jealousy.

Figure 8: People often take breaks from social networks to improve their
mental health (74.8%). After a long time of using social networks, they
sometimes become stressed and frustrated. They often stop using social
networks and go do something like: go out, play sports, or meditate,... this
makes them more relaxed, However, nearly ⅓ of people continue Using social
media can cause them more stress, but they don't know what else to do.

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 When overloaded by social networks, most people often hang out with
friends or family (60.3%), they feel happy when chatting directly with others,
and they can let go of stress by confiding in friends and relatives instead of
keeping it in their head. People are also encouraged to communicate more with
those around them instead of chatting on social networks.

In the survey, more than half of social media users (55.8%) felt there was
no need to use an app to limit their social media usage. They could control it
themselves. their usage time, but many people also say that they cannot stop
using social networks even though they try to control their usage time. Besides,
up to 44.4% of people also have to use applications or tools to limit time spent
using social networks, they have to rely heavily on applications to prevent
spending too much time on social networks, some say that using The
application makes it easier for them to control, but some people also feel
uncomfortable when they are not allowed to use it further.

In addition, the survey mentioned how people feel if they don't use social
networks for a day. They answered that they feel very bored if they don't use
it because they can't do anything else to kill. time, in addition, some people feel
comfortable because they have time to do the things they want. When it comes
to how stopping using social networks affects mental health, they say they feel
extremely bored and more negative when they think, and some people also say
they feel less stressed and sleep better.

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IV. Conclusion
Social media has become an undeniable force in shaping the lives of
young people. While offering opportunities for connection, self-expression,
and information access, its impact on mental health remains a complex issue.
This report has explored both the potential benefits and risks associated with
social media use, highlighting the importance of responsible engagement.

The research underscores the need for a multifaceted approach.

Promoting media literacy empowers young people to critically evaluate online
content and avoid harmful comparisons. Encouraging healthy online habits,
such as setting time limits and prioritizing real-world interactions, is crucial.
Collaboration among parents, educators, and social media platforms is vital to
creating a safe and supportive online environment.

Moving forward, further research is needed to understand the long-term

effects of social media on adolescent development. Developing evidence-
based interventions to promote responsible social media use and address
potential negative impacts is essential. By acknowledging both the positive and
negative aspects of social media, we can empower young people to navigate
this "double-edged sword" and foster positive mental health in the digital age.

Individual contribution
STT Full Name Student’s number Contribution
1 Bùi Mạnh Hoạt 22070970 Part 3
2 Hoàng Hồng Ánh 22070852 Part 3, Report
3 Giáp Hồng Phượng 22070822 Part 2
4 Đặng Lê Kim Chi 22070612 Part 2
5 Nguyễn Thanh Tùng 22070824 Part 1
6 Nguyễn Khánh Ly 22070918 Part 1

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