“SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION & IT’S IMPACT ON SELF ESTEEM AMONG SCHOOL STUDENTS: A CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH APPROACH”.

Abstract

Background: ‘Social Media’ have become the irreplaceable part of modern-day life. Social media are interactive technologies that let virtual communities and networks create, share, and aggregate material (such ideas, interests, and other kinds of expression).1,2 Social Media Addiction can be defined as the over and problematic use of social media to a point where the user spends too much time on Social Media sites including Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, telegram etc. Social media addiction affects young people and school going adversely and are not limited to poor cognitive functioning, academic impairment, engagement in risky activities and poor dietary habits. It also affects the psychological health leading to behaviour disorders, poor self-esteem and depression, anxiety and other psychiatric conditions. The aim of the current paper, was to assess the social media addiction and self-esteem levels among school students and to determine the relationship between them. Materials and Methods: The following study adopted a Descriptive, Correlational design. 100 Senior Secondary school students from a selected school in Rajouri were assigned using Stratified random sampling technique. The data was collected using a Modified Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSE). Results: Findings of the study revealed that the Pearson’s Coefficient of Correlation (r) calculated at 0.67** for finding the relationship between Social Media Addiction and Self-Esteem levels was statistically significant at P