Social Media Usage Status of Secondary School Students

Authors : Ebru Belen, Mustafa İçen

Pages : 505-535

View : 245 | Download : 366

Publication Date : 2025-11-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Understanding how young students engage with digital platforms is essential for addressing both the opportunities and risks embedded in online environments. This study examines lower secondary school students’ social media practices and their perceptions of its academic, social, psychological, and behavioural effects. The study group consisted of 20 seventh- and eighth-grade students. Using a qualitative phenomenological design, data were collected through a semi-structured interview form developed by the researchers and analysed through content analysis. The analysis yielded nine overarching themes: purposes of social media use, positive effects, negative effects, impacts on family relationships, peer interactions, academic responsibilities, psychological well-being, privacy and security concerns, and life without social media. The findings indicate that students primarily used social media for entertainment, information seeking, communication, and sharing content. Positive experiences included academic support, development of social skills, and enhanced creativity. However, students also reported negative outcomes related to distraction, disrupted time management, sleep problems, addictive tendencies, and exposure to cyberbullying. Social media was further found to influence family communication patterns, emotional well-being, and students’ perceptions of safety online. Overall, the study demonstrates that social media exerts a multifaceted influence on middle school students, providing both meaningful opportunities and notable risks. The findings underscore the need to strengthen students’ media literacy, promote digital self-regulation skills, and increase awareness of online privacy and safety. It is recommended that families adopt supportive rather than restrictive approaches to digital guidance, and that educators incorporate structured classroom activities highlighting constructive, ethical, and prosocial dimensions of social media use.
Keywords : Sosyal medya, sosyal medya kullanımı, ortaokul öğrencileri

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