Thesis Abstract

Abstract
The project aims to investigate the effects of social media usage on mental health among teenagers. With the increasing prevalence of social media platforms in daily life, concerns have been raised about potential negative impacts on mental well-being, particularly among adolescents. The research will employ a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys to gather data on social media usage patterns and mental health indicators, along with qualitative interviews to explore the subjective experiences and perceptions of teenagers regarding social media and its effects on their mental health. The quantitative phase will involve administering standardized surveys to a sample of teenagers, assessing their frequency of social media use, types of platforms utilized, and self-reported mental health symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and stress levels. Statistical analyses will be conducted to examine correlations between social media usage patterns and mental health outcomes, controlling for relevant demographic variables. In the qualitative phase, in-depth interviews will be conducted with a subset of participants to delve deeper into their personal experiences with social media, including both positive and negative aspects. Themes related to comparison, self-esteem, cyberbullying, and social support will be explored to provide a nuanced understanding of how social media influences mental health outcomes among teenagers. The qualitative data will be analyzed using thematic analysis techniques to identify common patterns and unique perspectives. By integrating quantitative and qualitative findings, this research aims to offer a comprehensive assessment of the complex relationship between social media use and mental health among teenagers. The results may have implications for informing interventions and strategies to promote positive online experiences and mitigate potential harms associated with excessive or harmful social media use. Understanding the interplay between social media and mental health is crucial for supporting the well-being of adolescents in today's digital age, and this study seeks to contribute valuable insights to this evolving field of research.

Thesis Overview