GOOD SAMARITAN COLLEGES

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Burgos Avenue, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. 3100. Tel: (044) – 464-3212. Loc. 131

CHAPTER 4

RESEARCH FINDINGS

This chapter presents the data the interpretation, analysis and the experiences of the

participants in the study “How Social Media Addiction Causes Depression in Students” The

researchers decided to use thematic analysis for the analyzation, interpretation and presentation.

What social media do you visit the most?

S1: Facebook

S2: Tiktok

S3: Messenger

“Based on this question, the top most common social media that a student has been using are

Facebook, Tiktok and Messenger.”

How often do you spend time on social media on a day?

S1: 10 to 12 hours

S2: 5 to 8 hours a day

S3: 4 to 6 hours
 GOOD SAMARITAN COLLEGES
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Burgos Avenue, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. 3100. Tel: (044) – 464-3212. Loc. 131

“Based on this question we can say that a senior high school students is using a social media for

almost half a day. Quite long, so we can conclude that there is really a social media addiction

based on their average daily usage. ”

What can you say about social media addiction?

S1: Excessive social media use can not only cause unhappiness and a general dissatisfaction with

life in users but also increase the risk of developing mental health issues such as anxiety and

depression.

S2: Social media addiction can affect our mental health. I think we should avoid or limit

ourselves in social media.

S3: It's not good for our health, it can cause us eye infection or irritation because of the radiation.

“Based on this question the students thinks that social media addiction can harm our mental

health and that it can cause anxiety and depression. Also it could lead to eye irritation because

of radiation.”

Have you ever been subjected to cyberbullying on social media? How do you take it?

S1: yes, I just don't pay attention to it because it doesn't do me any good

S2: Yes, and it lead to deleting of all my social media accounts.

 GOOD SAMARITAN COLLEGES
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Burgos Avenue, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. 3100. Tel: (044) – 464-3212. Loc. 131

S3: I haven't experienced it yet, but if I do experience it all I have to do is just ignore it and block

it.

“Based on this question some students who has been subjected to cyberbullying feel that since it

doesn’t do them good, they just brush it off but some who experience it lead to deleting of

accounts to avoid bashing or offensive assaults.”

How much personal information do you share on social media?

S1: it depends if there are questions that should not be made public to remain your privacy safety

S2: A little bit however. Many people are sharing too much personal data online, leaving them

vulnerable to hacking and social engineering attacks.

S3: My use of social media is just for fun, I don't publish my own information on social media.

“Based on this question students must maintain their privacy for safety purposes so they only

share a small amount of personal information.”

Do you feel like the number of "likes" you get on photos or posts makes you feel better

about yourself?

S1: It makes me feel happy when a lot of people can recognize and still appreciate my existence

in any social media platforms.

S2: Posting my picture is my preference whether it is a lot of reaction or just a few I am glad

because I am not based on other people's reaction to be happy.

S3: Yes because it increase my self-confidence.

 GOOD SAMARITAN COLLEGES
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Burgos Avenue, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. 3100. Tel: (044) – 464-3212. Loc. 131

“Based on this questions, students feel happy and confident because a lot of people can

recognize and appreciate their existence based on the numbers of likes they have on a post that

they share online.”

Do you ever get jealous of other people's seemingly extravagant lives on social media?

S1 Yes, most of people like my age is now successful and/or achiever.

S2: No, It's amazing how confident and freely they are in social media.

S3: No, because being luxurious is not good for young people. It is better to struggle with

something before getting it.

“Based on this question, some students are jealous of how other lives are a success but some

also say that they do not envy because time will come when they will be the one who is successful

in their life.”

Do you express yourself more on social media? Why or why not?

S1: Unlike before, I limit myself now because of judgements. Now I feel anxious whenever I

post my achievements or some pictures of mine because of what’s running in my mind like

"what if they don't like it?" "What if they are laughing right now?"

S2: I express myself more on social media. I think it's because, if I'm on the internet, I have the

chance (privilege?) to release my thoughts with an anonymous name/identity. Secondly, I am

exposed to people who share the same experiences/thoughts, so there is a less chance (emphasis

on the word 'less') that people would invalidate how I feel.

 GOOD SAMARITAN COLLEGES
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Burgos Avenue, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. 3100. Tel: (044) – 464-3212. Loc. 131

S3: No, because there are things you need to keep to yourself more than to express on social

media

“Based on this question, some students say that they do not express their self in social media to

avoid judgement and for protection of their privacy. Some students say that they express

themselves more on social media because they can use anonymous names so there is a less

chance that people would invalidate how they feel.”

What are your advice to those students that is experiencing fake news?

S1: If they have shared fake news with others, it’s important to correct their mistake and let

people know the article or post was untrue.

S2: Be more aware and do some research on everything you see on social media especially on

Facebook and Tiktok

S3: Learn how to do a fact check, and to not always believe on what we hear, or see on social

media.

“Based on this question, students who experience fake news must learn how to do a fact check

before believing what we see/ hear on social media.

 GOOD SAMARITAN COLLEGES
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Burgos Avenue, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. 3100. Tel: (044) – 464-3212. Loc. 131

What can you say about self-harm?

S1: It can be hard to know what to say when someone you care for is hurting themselves. The

most important thing is to be there for someone, and to listen. Don’t be scared to make mistakes;

the thing people normally need the most is emotional connection. You may have spotted

someone’s self-harm rather than them telling you about it. The person you’re talking to could be

feeling really vulnerable, with feelings of guilt, shame and isolation.

S2: Well, self-harm is a sign of serious emotional distress and not an illness. It may happen

sometimes but hurting yourself isn't a good thing. Self-harm is hurting yourself in a purpose but

we should know our limits of hurting ourselves because it may lead us to worst scenarios that

could happen or worst suicide.

S3: I think self-harm is a coping mechanism for those people who want to feel something, or

release an overwhelming feeling that they can't tell anyone about it.

“Based on this question students think that self-harm is a coping mechanism, a sign of serious

emotional distress and that those who do self-harm need emotional connections because they

feel vulnerable, guilty, shamed and isolated.”

This research aims at how social media addiction leads to depression in students, as well as the
role of self-esteem as a mediator in the relationship and its possible negative consequences.
Because their brains and social abilities are still developing, overuse of social networking sites is
significantly more hazardous in senior high school kids. According to studies, social media use
from a young age has badly harmed social interaction abilities. Even though people communicate
with one another on digital platforms, many of these interactions do not necessarily translate
effectively to the real world. As per studies, these people have severe social anxiety in groups,
 GOOD SAMARITAN COLLEGES
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Burgos Avenue, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. 3100. Tel: (044) – 464-3212. Loc. 131

have higher rates of depression, have a negative body image, and have lower levels of empathy
and compassion for others.