Kyle Palmberg, a psychology major at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, designed a research study on the mental health impact of poor sleep quality among college students, focusing on the role of social media overuse. Growing up surrounded by social media, Palmberg was aware of its potential harms and noticed addictive behaviors in himself and his peers. Inspired by existing research on internet addiction, Palmberg hypothesized similarities between online gambling and social media addiction. He surveyed college students about their social media habits and found that entertainment was the most significant motivation for its use, correlating with addictive behaviors and poor sleep quality. This addiction, he believes, stems from the short-lived dopamine highs of platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Molly O’Connor, his academic advisor, supported his conclusions, noting the prevalence of social media addiction among college students. Palmberg emphasizes moderation in social media use and believes it can be a tool if used responsibly. At Gustavus Adolphus College, efforts like “Digital Well-Being Week” and campus-wide surveys led by Charlie Potts encourage students to reflect on their social media use and its impact on their mental health, offering strategies for healthier tech habits and promoting face-to-face interaction.
Studies highlight impact of social media use on college student mental health
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