EXPLORING THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF FACEBOOK USAGE AMONG PAKISTANI YOUTH

Abstract

The evolution of social media applications, such as Facebook, has become enormously popular and accessible to Pakistan's youth. The popularity of Facebook as a social media application among young people has raised concerns about its impact on their overall psychological health. Using social media increases the risk of multiple psychological effects that are associated with mental health, particularly among young people. This research explored the psychological effects of the Facebook application among University students, by using the Uses and Gratification theory. This study used a survey approach to examine the psychological effects of the Facebook social media application on university students. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 400 respondents, with male and female participants represented equally. Findings reveal that 100% of students use smartphones for social media daily, with 78% of students spending over three hours daily. According to the analysis, more than 65% of respondents use smartphones for activities like calling, chatting, finding information, and entertainment. According to an exclusive data analysis, Facebook is found to contribute to various types of psychological issues in youth, with 45.3% reporting stress, 40% anxiety, and 42.3% self-harm tendencies. Over 45% of students believe Facebook negatively affects youth mental health, causing loneliness, stress, depression, and anxiety. It is concluded that Facebook is one of the most popular applications among university students and has significant psychological effects like loneliness, stress, depression, and anxiety.

Keywords: Social Media, Youth, Facebook, Purpose, Psychological effects, Uses and Gratification