Social Media Addiction, Social Media Use and Aggression in Young Adults

Abstract

Social media provides valuable opportunities to share content and engage online; however, problematic use, specifically in young adults, leads to serious psychological issues. This study examines the connections between social media addiction, usage, and aggression in young adults, employing a correlational research design and purposive sampling with 122 participants (all smartphone users who had engaged with social media for at least six months), aged 18 to 25 (63 men and 59 women). The Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale was used to evaluate social media addiction and usage, while aggression was assessed using the Puss-Berry Aggression Questionnaire. Results revealed a significant negative correlation between social media addiction and usage and a significant positive correlation between social media addiction and aggression. No significant correlation was identified between social media usage and aggression. Gender differences emerged, with women exhibiting higher levels of social media usage and men displaying greater addiction. No significant difference was noted in aggression despite men scoring higher than women. Implications for youth welfare were discussed, and recommendations and limitations were also addressed at the end of the study.