Impact of Social Media Use on Academic Performance and Well-Being among the Secondary Level Students in Selected Schools in Nepal

Introduction: Concerns regarding Academic Performance (AP) and student Well-Being (WB) have grown as a result of the increased usage of Social Media Use (SMU) among Secondary Level Students (SLS). The main aim of this research is to examine the impact of SMU on academic performance and wellbeing among male and female secondary-level students in Nepal. Materials and Methods: In this study, an analytical cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 229 students in Grades 8, 9, and 10 at a boarding school in Kathmandu, using probability-based stratified sampling techniques with two boarding schools as strata. The research tool was a self-administered questionnaire with four sections addressing SMU, AP, and WB, as well as well-structured tools utilized by researchers. All ethical approval was obtained before conducting the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, regression analysis, and the t-test. Results: The study examined the relationship between SMU and AP and WB. Neither hypothesis H1 nor H2 was supported, demonstrating no significant impact of SMU on AP or WB. Though, a significant difference in SMU between male and female students was detected. The majority of students were male students who favored using Facebook. Conclusion: Further examination is recommended to fully comprehend the complex association between SMU, AP, and WB. The study highlights the need for guidance and supervision from parents, teachers, and authority figures to prevent undesirable effects on students’ WB and AP. Researchers may suggest models such as emotional intelligence to increase self-awareness, self-management, empathy, and communication. Appropriate policies and models are urgently needed to prevent serious issues related with SMU among students.