Digital engagement and psychosocial health experiences among late adolescents and young adults in Arada sub-city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: An exploratory mixed-methods study.

Abstract

Background: Social media has become an important environment for communication, identity formation, and social interaction among young people. However, its role in psychosocial well-being and digital safety remains under-researched in low-resource settings, including Ethiopia.

Objective: This study explored perceptions of social media use and described self-reported psychosocial and digital safety experiences among late adolescents and young adults in Arada Sub-City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods: A cross-sectional exploratory mixed-methods study with a strong qualitative emphasis was conducted among 30 purposively selected late adolescents and young adults aged 17-21 years. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically.

Results: Prolonged social media engagement was common, with 26.7% of participants reporting sessions lasting more than 3 hours and 90.0% reporting use without adult supervision. Online harassment was reported by 36.7% of participants. More than half, 53.3%, reported perceived behavioral or social changes related to social media use, including online-initiated romantic relationships. Qualitative narratives described both perceived benefits, such as communication and learning, and risks, including excessive use, exposure to inappropriate content, harassment, and distressing online interactions.

Conclusion: Among late adolescents and young adults in this exploratory urban Ethiopian sample, social media was perceived as both beneficial and potentially harmful. Findings highlight the need for context-sensitive digital literacy, online safety education, and youth-centered psychosocial support strategies.