A Study to assess the Level of Social Media App Addiction among Adolescents in a Selected Degree College, Kannur, Kerala

Background: People with addiction do not have control over their behavior, actions or usage. The causes of addiction differ considerably, and are seldom fully understood. They are caused in general by varying degrees of physical, mental, circumstantial and emotional factors. The researcher felt that there are various reasons that affect the well being of adolescents and some of them being, the objectives and the goals of the adolescent being smashed, Loss of Parental relationship, Disrupted interpersonal relationships, Fading Social and cultural values, subjection to unhealthy environment and so on. The aim of this study was to assess the level of social media app addiction among adolescents in selected Degree College in Kannur District, conducted in 2018. Methods: A descriptive survey approach was used for the study. The sample consisted of 100 adolescents between the age group of 18-21 years selected by convenient sampling technique. Data were collected by using a modified social media app addiction scale and were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (chi-square test). Results: In order to facilitate the analysis and interpretation of the scope of the social media app addiction was graded into extremely addicted (3%), severely addicted (87%), moderately addicted (10%) and mild addicted (0%). The mean, median and standard deviation of adolescents’ social media app addiction scores were 95.77, 95 and 14.016 respectively. 44% expressed reduced interaction with family members, 48% pointed that they have physical problems and 51.4% expressed that their biological routine changed. Discussion : The study showed that the reason for frequent use of mobile phone is anxiety and fear about losing personal information and social relationship, and also the study revealed that these causes disturbance in the health and education of students.