F.P Olise

This study explored the Influence of Social Media on the Mental Health of Mass Communication Undergraduates in Select Universities in Edo State, Nigeria. The objectives were Examine the extent of the use of social media by Mass Communication undergraduates in select universities in Edo State, identify specific platforms and their impact, find out the influence of the use of social media on the mental health, highlight contributing mental health factors, and determine the challenges students face as a result of social media engagement. The research adopted a descriptive survey design and in-depth interviews. A structured questionnaire administered to a sample of 490 students drawn from the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Benin City, Edo University Iyamho, and Glorious Vision University, Ogwa, was used to generate data. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics percentages, frequency tables, means, and standard deviations and inferential tools. Findings revealed a high level of social media usage among respondents. While a significant number of respondents acknowledged that social media positively influenced their well-being through positive interactions others reported adverse effects such as low self-esteem, distraction from academic work and increased anxiety.
Key challenges faced by students included academic distraction, online bullying, and sleep disruption. These findings support the social comparison and the uses and gratifications tenets adopted for this study. This suggests that the motivations behind social media use, and how individuals interpret content, significantly influence its psychological impact. The study concludes that although social media can foster emotional connection and engagement, it simultaneously exposes students to psychological vulnerabilities. It recommends that universities implement digital literacy programmes, provide mental health support services, and promote balanced digital habits among students.