International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience
Open Access

Abstract

Social media has become an integral part of human beings in the present era. It has influenced them in many ways. On the one hand, numerous benefits of social media, such as online chatting, audio/video calling, opinion sharing, posting images, reading real-time news, and advertising, are attracting users rapidly. On the other hand, excessive use of social media is causing negative impacts on mental health, like increased anxiety, depression, loneliness, and low self-esteem. The research and publication intend to make students aware of social media's positive and negative impacts on their mental health to increase their focus on study, expand their skills, and increase productivity. In the empirical part, a questionnaire survey was conducted on 200 students in Kathmandu Valley. The objective of the survey was to know the time students spend using social media and how social media is helping or affecting students. The result showed that female students are more active on social media than males. Additionally, late-night social media use reported in the present study can lead to chronic sleep restriction, which plays a significant role in the etiology of diseases associated with metabolic syndrome. The study concludes that social media can have positive and negative effects on mental health, depending on how it is used and the specific features engaged with. It is, therefore, important for young people to be aware of the potential risks and to use social media in a balanced and responsible manner.

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