Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and Families in Kathmandu

Abstract

This study examines the impact of social media on children, adolescents, and families in Kathmandu. Mental health is the dependent variable. The selected independent variables are type of content consumed, peer influence, parental supervision, frequency of social media use and time sent on social media. The primary source of data is used to assess the opinion of respondents regarding type of content consumed, peer influence, parental supervision, frequency of social media use, time sent on social media and mental health. The study is based on primary data of 125 respondents. To achieve the purpose of the study, structured questionnaire is prepared. The correlation and multiple regression models are estimated to test the significance and importance of social media on children, adolescents, and families in Kathmandu. The study showed a positive impact of time spent on social media on mental health. It indicates that higher the time spent on social media leads to greater impact on mental health. Similarly, the study showed a positive impact of peer influence on mental health. It indicates that social media friend groups can put pressure on people’s mental health. However, the study showed a negative impact of parental supervision on mental health. It indicates that strict supervision of parents can help to improve mental health of the children. Further, the study showed a positive impact of frequency of social media use on mental health. It indicates that higher the frequency of social media use lead to reduce the creative capacity of the users. In addition, the study showed a positive impact of type of content consumed on mental health. It indicates that useful content used by the children and adolescents lead to improve mental health.