Factors Associated with Social Media-Induced Risk Behaviors among Adolescents in a Community in Bangkok

Abstract

Introduction Utilizing online social media has its advantages for knowledge acquisition, skill development, and communication. However, the lack of media literacy skills may pose risks, particularly among adolescents who frequently engage in online social platforms. 

Objectives 1) To describe personal characteristics, media literacy skills, and social media-induced risk behaviors in adolescents, and 2) To investigate the relationship between personal characteristics (gender, age, education level) and media literacy skills with social media-Induced risk behaviors among adolescents in a community in Bangkok. 

Design A descriptive correlational design 

Methodology The participants included 371 adolescents aged 13-19 years, attending schools under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration in the Laksi district. The participants were recruited through a multi-stage random sampling. Data were collected from January to March 2022 using questionnaires on personal information and social media use, media literacy skills, and social media-induced risk behaviors. The questionnaires were high in item objective congruence, with an index of .98 and 1.00, respectively. The reliability of the instruments was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, obtaining values of .88 and .95, respectively. Data analysis was conducted using Spearman correlation, Point biserial correlation, and Biserial correlation. 

Results The participants consisted of females (49.87%), with an average age of 15.27 years (SD=1.67). Most participants were in junior high school (49.33%), and the majority used smart phones (84.90%). The peak usage time for online social media was between 16:01 and 24:00 (66.04%). The primary reason for using online social media was for entertainment (78.44%). The average score for overall media literacy skills was at good level (M=3.58, SD=0.77), while the average score for social media-induced risk behaviors was at low level (M=1.94, SD=0.43). There was a statistically significant with low correlation between gender and age with social mediainduced risk behaviors (rpb=-.112, p=.032 and rs=.139, p=.007, respectively). However, there was no significant relationship between education level and media literacy skills with social media-induced risk behaviors (rb = .064, p=.216 and rs=-.003, p=.948, respectively). 

Recommendation The results provide fundamental evidence for the community in the Laksi district. This information is crucial for multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders to plan for monitoring and surveillance of social media-induced risky behaviors, particularly in sleep quality and online social media addiction. Additionally, the results highlight the importance of promoting media literacy skills, focusing on creativity, and encouraging adolescent participation in sharing their opinions.