Investigating the relationship between Instagram use and social media addiction among university students

Abstract

In light of the growing use of Instagram as a social media platform, this quantitative study investigates the relationship between Instagram use and social media addiction among university students. A convenientsample of 154 participants wasrecruited through an online survey consisting of demographic data and two other measurements (The social media addiction scale, and the Instagram use scale). Moreover, crosstabulations and Chi-square tests were used to determine the significance between variables. To test this association, this study focused on four main factors: (a) gender; (b) age; (c) Instagram daily screen-time; and (d) Instagram use. Results obtained revealed a statistically significant association between social media addiction and Instagram use as well as between social media addiction and age. Although nonsignificant results were found between social media addiction and gender as well as social media addiction and Instagram daily average screen time. Furthermore, since the online survey was posted on various University of Malta student groups, gathered information depended on the provision of accessibility only to those individuals who were part of those online groups where the survey was posted limiting generalizability of results. This study, aimed to provide more insight for future exploration relevant to the association between Instagram use and social media addiction among university students.