Social media addiction behavior among students at Sarakham Pittayakhom School.

Abstract

Objective : To explore social media addiction behavior among students at Sarakham Pittayakhom School.

Methods : This study employed a cross-sectional descriptive design. Data were collected from students at Sarakham Pittayakhom School between January and November 2024. The research instruments included a general information questionnaire, a survey of social media usage patterns, and the Social Media Addiction Test (SMAT), developed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chanwit Phornnaphon and the Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital (2013).

Results : The sample consisted of 302 students, the majority of whom were female (68.9%). Half of the participants were in lower secondary school (50.3%), while the remainder were in upper secondary school (49.7%). Social media addiction was identified in 70.5% of students. Facebook was the most widely used social media platform (59.4%), while Instagram was the most frequently used (33.3%). Most students accessed social media via smartphones (51.2%). A majority (76.8%) used social media 5 or more times per day, and 55.0% spent 6 or more hours daily on social media. The primary purpose for social media use was communication with friends (31.5%), while posting messages or pictures was the least common purpose (3.0%).

Conclusion : Social media usage plays a significant role in students' daily lives, leading to increased social media addiction, particularly among teenagers in both lower and upper secondary school. While appropriate and controlled usage can be beneficial, excessive use may result in negative impacts on students' physical and mental health.