Social networks consumption and addiction in college students during the COVID-19 pandemic: educational approach to responsible use

Abstract

Within the framework of digital sustainability, the increase in Internet consumption, andespecially online social networks, oers social benefits, but is not without its drawbacks. For example,it can lead to psychological and/or psychiatric disorders in some people. Numerous researches arehighlighting the similarities of these addictions with the consumption of toxic substances. Universitystudents are heavy users of the Internet and, in certain situations, addiction to online social networkscan be the result of depression, harassment, and anxiety, among others, aecting their daily life,including their academic responsibilities. In recent months, an anomaly has occurred that mayhave contributed to intensifying this problem, namely the confinement produced by the COVID-19pandemic, which has aected the whole world to a greater or lesser extent. In this cross-sectionalstudy, with a descriptive and quantitative methodology, students from 14 Spanish universities wereinvestigated in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to understand the eects of thissituation on the problem described. The results show a high consumption of social networks duringthat time, with significant incidences of addiction. In parallel, the presence of comorbidity has beendetermined. In this scenario, it would be necessary to implement university educational programs toredirect these addictive behaviors, as well as preventative recommendations and actions to minimizenegative impacts. This is a major problem that is growing, exacerbated by the global pandemicproduced by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Situations of this gravity call for the development ofpreventive and educational measures for the responsible and sustainable use of ICT