Student perspectives on the use of social networks: repercussions on mental health and life academic Student perspectives on the use of social media: repercussions on mental health and academic life

Abstract

Considering the expressive and constant use of social networks in the world mostly by young female people, we discuss in this article about digital communication technologies and their influence on the teaching perspective as well as their repercussions on mental health and academic performance. The purpose of this study was to describe the reasons that lead university students to access social networks, outlining the harmful effects of using these platforms, investigating the influence of social networks on their productivity, while seeking to understand the use of social networks into the mental health of these students. This is a descriptive and exploratory study, with a qualitative approach, conducted with 16 students of the Federal University of Paraiba Occupational Therapy course. The semi-structured interview was interpreted while using the thematic content analysis. The information was collected in November 2019 and all ethical aspects were respected. The results indicated the different perceptions regarding the use of social networks, which have an impact on mental health, personal and academic life of the interviewed university students. In addition, it was found that social networks contribute to the dynamization and the autonomy of the learning process while the overuse of platforms can have a harmful effect on students' mental health and academic performance.