A Descriptive Study of Social Media Addiction Among Senior High School Students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the level of social media addiction among high school students and to categorize their addiction levels based on a standardized measurement instrument. The study focused on patterns of social media use among adolescents in formal education settings. A descriptive quantitative research design was employed, involving 408 randomly selected students from SMA Negeri 1 Nanga Pinoh. Data were collected using the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), which consists of 11 items measuring six dimensions of social media addiction; salience, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict and relapse. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted to calculate  the total scores and classify the levels of addictions. The finding revealed that 4% of students demonstrated high addiction levels, 64% moderate levels and 32% low levels. These results suggest that while most students exhibit moderate social media use, a small group shows symptoms of high dependency that warrant targeted interventions. The study concludes that social media plays a significant role in students’ daily lives, yet it also poses potential risks when used excessively. Therefore, digital literacy programs and school-based counseling focusing on time management, self-control, and awareness of psychological impacts are strongly recommended to promote healthy and responsible social media use.