1-Generation Z’s Smartphone and Social Media Usage A Survey

Journalism and Mass Communication, May-June 2019, Vol. 9, No. 3, 101-122 doi: 10.17265/2160-6579/2019.03.001

Generation Z’s Smartphone and Social Media Usage: A Survey

Niaz Ahmed

Saint Cloud State University, Minnesota, USA

This study examined the smartphone and social media usage among Generation Z. A survey was completed by a

non-random sample of 415 students at State University of New York in Oneonta during the academic year

2017-2018. The results revealed that almost all Gen Zers (99%) own a smartphone, and 98% of them use their

smartphones to connect to the Internet most of the time. More than half of Gen Zers spend nine hours or more in a

typical day using their smartphones, and nearly half of them spend 3-8 hours per day on their smartphones. With

regard to the use of social media, more than half of Gen Zers accessed various social media several times a day,

while nearly 1 in 5 admitted accessing social media every hour of the day. As for the amount of time devoted to

social media, nearly one-third of the students admitted using social media for 7-10 hours per day, and slightly less

than one-third of the students spent 5-6 hours per day on social media. With regard to Generation Z’s perception of

their addiction to smartphone and social media, 4 in 5 students admitted that they were spending an excessive

amount of time on the Internet, and two-thirds believed that they were spending too much time on social media.

Furthermore, 7 in 10 students admitted that they were addicted to the Internet, and nearly two-thirds believed they

were addicted to social media. These findings may have significant implications for counseling and intervention for

parents, educators, and policy makers.

Keywords: social media addiction, smartphone addiction, Internet addiction

The advent of the smartphone and social media has significantly transformed our lives in terms of how we

communicate and entertain ourselves. In recent years, smartphone and social media usage has grown

exponentially among the general public and specifically within the Generation Z known as “Gen Z” or “Gen

Zers” (Statista, 2015). The Generation Z is the demographic cohort born during the mid-1990s to mid-2000s

(roughly 13-24 years of age today) and has followed the millennials or Generation Y (Seemiller & Grace, 2016;

Wood, 2013). Generation Z is the first cohort to have smartphones, social media, and other technologies readily

available at a young age. In terms of the size of Gen Z population, current estimate indicates that about

one-third of world’s 7.7 billion people are Gen Zers (Miller & Lu, 2018). Furthermore, Gen Z commands $44

billion in buying power in the consumer market (Hutchinson, 2018).

While the advantages of the smartphone and social media are recognized, constant and excessive use may

have negative consequences for the users such as addictive usage, increased stress, false sense of online

connections, reduced face-to-face interactions, diminishing interpersonal skills, problematic family relations,

and lower self-esteem (Hawi & Samaha, 2016; Smith & Monica, 2016; Nazir & Samaha, 2016; Andreassen &

Pallesen, 2014; Bian & Leung, 2014; Hong & Chiu, 2012).

Niaz Ahmed, Dr., Professor Emeritus, Saint Cloud State University, Minnesota, USA.

DAVID PUBLISHING

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GENERATION Z’S SMARTPHONE AND SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE: A SURVEY

102

Although a significant amount of research has been done in the recent past about the use of smartphone

and social media among Generation X and Y, insufficient research exists about smartphone and social media

addiction among Generation Z. Since the digital world is changing rapidly every year, it is important to track its

usage and impacts on an ongoing basis for detecting any trends and correlations and for identifying significant

implications for counseling and intervention for parents, educators, and policy makers. The present study

attempts to contribute to the evolving knowledge by examining the implications of the addictive use of

smartphone and social media among Generation Z. It also explores important variables that remained

unexamined in past research.

Literature Review

Past studies have examined the extent and impact of smartphone and social media usage in the general

public as well as among the millennials. A survey (Lee, Sung, Song, Lee, Lee, Cho, Park, & Shin, 2016) of 490

adolescents found that 27% of them were in high risk of smartphone addiction, and showed significantly more

behavioral and emotional problems, lower self-esteem, and poor quality of communication with their parents. A

study by Nazir and Samaha in 2016 also revealed that addictive use of social media had a negative association

with self-esteem. Wu, Cheung, Ku, and Hung (2013) also found a correlation between daily usage of

smartphones and addictive symptoms towards social media. A study by Hong and Chiu (2012) revealed that

students who scored high on smartphone addiction showed more social extraversion, anxiety, and lower

self-esteem. An extensive review of literature by Kuss and Griffiths (2011) indicated that an excessive social

media use may lead to symptoms traditionally associated with substance-related addictions.

A 2014 study of 414 university students (Bian & Leung, 2014) identified five smartphone addiction

symptoms: disregard of harmful consequences, preoccupation, inability to control craving, productivity loss,

and feeling anxious and lost. The results showed that the higher one scored in loneliness, the higher the

likelihood one would be addicted to smartphone. A study of 1,000 Belgians by Wang, Ho, Chan, and Tse (2015)

found that compulsive users scored lower on emotional stability, conscientiousness, self-esteem, and higher on

loneliness and depressive feelings.

Several studies have found that many smartphone users developed addictions as a consequence of using

certain applications such as instant messaging, online gaming, and social networking through their mobile

phones (Lopez-Fernandez, Kuss, Griffiths, & Billieux, 2015; Billieux, Maurage, Lopez-Fernandez, Kuss, &

Griffiths, 2015; Kuss & Griffiths, 2012).

In terms of sociodemographic differences, past research revealed that among those addicted to social

media, females showed a higher prevalence of addictions and were more likely to experience anxiety and

depression symptoms as a negative consequence of social media use (Bragazzi & Del Puente, 2014; Caplan,

2003; Wang et al., 2015). In terms of age variation, past studies found that younger individuals were more

likely to develop addictive behavior with social media (Song, LaRose, Eastin, & Lin, 2004).

Methodology

A survey of college students was conducted to examine the smartphone and social media addiction among

Generation Z during the academic year 2017-2018. The survey was administered online and was completed by

a non-random sample of 415 students at State University of New York in Oneonta. This study poses the

following research question:

What

any statisti

With

New York

points for

females, an

21-25. In t

Asian, Nat

were junior

How Does

As sh

interperson

messaging,

that the use

Table 1

Compariso

Types of com

GENERA

are the perce

cally signific

a completion

in Oneonta.

completing t

nd 43% were

terms of race

ive American

rs and seniors

Generation

hown in Tab

nal communic

, etc.) most o

e of social me

on of Face-to-

mmunication

Fig

ATION Z’S SM

eptions of Ge

cant differenc

n rate of 99%

The respons

the survey as

e males. Abo

, about 54%

n, Mixed). Ap

s, while 10%

Z Commun

ble 1 and Fi

cation or dig

often than fac

edia had decr

-Face and Me

gure 1. Compar

MARTPHON

eneration Z ab

ces in terms o

%, data were c

se rate was pr

part of a cla

out 63% of th

of the respon

pproximately

were gradua

icate?

igure 1, abo

gital commun

ce-to-face co

reased their fa

Mediated Interp

ison of face-to-

NE AND SOC

bout their add

f gender and

Results

collected from

redictably hig

ass requireme

he subjects w

ndents were w

y 48% of the s

ate students.

out 46% of

nication (via

ommunication

ace-to-face co

personal Com

-face and media

CIAL MEDIA

diction to sma

age?

m a sample o

gh due to the

ent. Approxim

were 18-20 y

white and 46

subjects were

the students

smartphone,

n. Moreover,

ommunication

mmunication

ated interperson

A USAGE: A

artphone and

of 415 studen

e fact that the

mately 56%

years of age,

6% were non-

e freshman an

indicated th

social media

about 59% o

n (Figure 2).

Frequerespon

nal communicat

A SURVEY

d social media

nts at State U

e students rec

of the respon

and 27% of

-white (Hispa

nd sophomore

hat they use

a, email, text

of the studen

ency and percendents

tion.

103

a? Are there

University of

ceived extra

ndents were

f them were

anic, Black,

es, and 42%

d mediated

ting, instant

nts admitted

nt of

104

In term

dimensions

than face-t

option “on

students (3

Table 2

ComparisoGender

Notes. * p = 0

As sh

dimensions

interperson

students in

face-to-fac

How Does

Accor

GENERA

ms of gender

s of this vari

to-face comm

ne-third of m

3%) respond

on of Face-to-Freq

0.05, 95% conf

hown in Table

s of this vari

nal communi

n the age gro

ce communica

Generation

rding to surv

ATION Z’S SM

Figure 2. H

variation, th

iable. Both m

munication. A

my communi

ded in affirma

-Face and Mequency and perc

fidence.

e 3, in terms

iable. More s

cation compa

oup 18-20 rev

ation most of

Z Use Smar

vey results, 9

MARTPHON

Have social med

e results did n

males and fem

As shown in

cation is me

ative than mal

Mediated Interpcent of responde

of age varia

students in th

ared to face-

vealed that th

f the time.

rtphones?

9% of the st

NE AND SOC

dia decreased fa

not show any

males used m

n Table 2, si

ediated interp

le students (2

personal Coments

ation, the resu

he age group

-to-face comm

hey used med

tudents had a

CIAL MEDIA

ace-to-face com

y statistically

mediated inter

gnificant diff

personal com

20%).

mmunication

ults showed s

p 21-25 (64%

munication m

diated interp

a functional s

A USAGE: A

mmunication?

significant d

rpersonal com

fference was

mmunication”

by Gender

significant di

%) indicated t

most of the t

ersonal comm

smartphone,

A SURVEY

difference for

mmunication

found for th

” whereby m

ifference for

that they use

time. About 4

munication c

and about 98

most of the

more often

he response

more female

most of the

ed mediated

47% of the

ompared to

8% of them

used their s

difference

dimension

compared t

As sh

More stude

respectivel

younger ag

respectivel

Table 3

ComparisoAge groups

Notes. * p = 0

Table 4

Devices UsTypes of dev

GENERA

smartphones

in terms of

showed sign

to female stud

hown in Table

ents in the old

ly) most of t

ge groups (1

ly) compared

on of Face-to-Freq

0.05, 95% conf

sed to Connecvices

ATION Z’S SM

to connect to

gender for m

ificant differe

dents.

e 6, in terms

der age group

the time than

8-20 and 21-

to older stud

-Face and Mequency and perc

fidence.

ct to the Inter

MARTPHON

o the Internet

most of the d

ence whereby

of age varia

ps (21-25 and

n students in

-25) used lap

dents (26+) w

Mediated Interpcent of responde

rnet Most of t

NE AND SOC

t most of the

dimensions o

y more male s

ation, data rev

d 26+) used sm

the 18-20 ag

ptops to acce

who did not us

personal Coments

the Time

CIAL MEDIA

time (Table 4

of this variab

students used

vealed signif

martphones t

ge group (59

ess the Intern

se laptops to a

mmunication

A USAGE: A

4). Data did n

ble. As show

d game conso

ficant differen

to access the I

9%). Howeve

net most of t

access the Int

by Age

Frequency

A SURVEY

not show any

wn in Table 5

les to access

nce for two d

Internet (66%

er, more stud

the time (29%

ternet.

y and percent of

105

y significant

5, only one

the Internet

dimensions.

% and 100%

dents in the

% and 20%

f respondents

106

Table 5

Devices UsGender

Notes. * p = 0

Table 6

Devices UsTypes of dev

Notes. * p = 0

As sh

their smart

significant

8 and 9).

Table 7

Amount of Amount of ti

GENERA

sed to ConnecFreque

0.05, 95% conf

sed to Connecvices Freque

0.05, 95% conf

hown in Table

tphones, and

difference in

f Time Spent inime

ATION Z’S SM

ct to the Interency and percen

fidence.

ct to the Interency and percen

fidence.

e 7, approxim

d about 48%

n terms of gen

n a Typical D

MARTPHON

rnet Most of tnt of responden

rnet Most of tnt of responden

mately 51% o

spent 3-8 h

nder or age w

Day Using the

NE AND SOC

the Time by Gnts

the Time by Ants

of the student

hours per day

with regard to

e Smartphone

CIAL MEDIA

Gender

Age

ts spent nine

y on their sm

the amount o

e

A USAGE: A

hours or mor

martphones.

of time spent

Frequency and

A SURVEY

re in a typica

Data did not

on smartpho

d percent of res

al day using

t show any

ones (Tables

pondents

Table 8

Amount of Gender

Table 9

Amount of Age groups

With

smartphone

send or rec

media, and

movies onl

In addition

search or a

doing resea

The d

variable. A

more male

used their s

used their s

In term

More stude

100% resp

groups (18

students (2

GENERA

f Time Spent inFreque

f Time Spent inFrequ

regard to the

es to make o

ceive emails.

d to check the

line, 97% use

n, about 40%

apply for job

arch for class

data did not s

As shown in

students used

smartphones

smartphones

ms of age va

ents in the ol

pectively) tha

-20 and 21-2

26+) who did

ATION Z’S SM

n a Typical Dency and percen

n a Typical Duency and perc

e nature of sm

r receive pho

About 80% u

e news online

ed it to play m

used it for on

bs. One notab

s assignments

show any sig

Table 11, on

d smartphone

to access dat

to apply for j

ariation, data

lder age grou

an students in

5) used their

not use smar

MARTPHON

Day Using thent of responden

Day Using theent of responde

martphone usa

one calls, 96%

used their sm

e. Furthermor

music, 9% us

nline purchas

ble finding r

s.

gnificant diffe

nly three of t

es (18%) to p

ting sites com

jobs online co

revealed sign

ups (21-25 an

n the 18-20 a

smartphones

rtphones for

NE AND SOC

e Smartphonents

e Smartphoneents

age, Table 10

% used it to s

martphones to

re, about 66%

sed it to watc

sing, 29% use

revealed that

ference in term

the above dim

play podcast c

mpared to 25%

ompared to m

nificant differ

nd 26+) used

age group (75

s to apply for

this purpose

CIAL MEDIA

e by Gender

e by Age

0 shows that

send or receiv

o take, post, a

% of the stude

ch TV online

ed it for acce

67% of the

ms of gende

mensions sho

compared to f

% females. H

males (8%).

rences for fiv

smartphones

5%). Howeve

jobs online (

at all. Furthe

A USAGE: A

about 95% o

ve text messa

and view pho

ents used the

, and 75% us

ssing dating s

students use

r for most of

owed signific

female studen

However, mor

ve dimension

s to check the

er, more stud

(15% and 8%

ermore, more

A SURVEY

of the student

ages, and 92%

otos and video

eir smartphon

sed it for play

sites, and 12%

ed their smar

f the dimens

cant differen

nts (8%), and

re female stud

ns as shown i

e news onlin

dents in the y

% respectively

e students in t

107

ts used their

% used it to

os on social

nes to watch

ying games.

% used it to

rtphones for

ions of this

ce whereby

d 34% males

dents (15%)

in Table 12.

e (84% and

younger age

y) than older

the younger

108

age groups

students (2

Table 10

Type of AcTypes of act

Table 11

Types of AcTypes of acti

GENERA

s (18-20 and 2

26+) who did

tivities Perfoivities

ctivities Perfoivities

ATION Z’S SM

21-25) used th

not use smar

rmed on Sma

formed on Sm

MARTPHON

heir smartpho

rtphones for th

artphones

artphones by

NE AND SOC

ones to watch

his purpose.

y Gender

CIAL MEDIA

h TV online (

A USAGE: A

(11% and 9%

Frequency

Frequency

A SURVEY

% respectively

y and percent of

y and percent of

y) than older

f respondents

f respondents

Notes. * p = 0

Table 12

Types of AcTypes of acti

Notes. * p = 0

GENERA

0.05, 95% conf

ctivities Perfoivities Freq

0.05, 95% conf

ATION Z’S SM

fidence.

formed on Smquency and perc

fidence.

MARTPHON

artphones bycent of responde

NE AND SOC

y Age ents

CIAL MEDIAA USAGE: AA SURVEY 109


110

How Does Generation Z Use Social Media?

The results revealed that Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter are the most widely used social

media among Generation Z with majority of the respondents having multiple social media accounts. As shown

in Table 13, 93% of the students had an account on Facebook, 95% had an account on Snapchat, 88% had an

account on Twitter, and 58% had an account on Instagram. In addition, about 41% used YouTube while 15%

used Google Plus.

Figure 3. Most frequently used social media.

In terms of frequency of usage, 52% of the respondents indicated that they accessed various social media

several times a day, while 18% admitted accessing social media every hour of the day (Table 14).

As shown in Table 15, in terms of gender variation, significant difference was found for the response

option “about once a day” whereby more male students (33%) responded in affirmative than female students

(19%). Conversely, for the response option “every hour of the day” more female students (25%) responded in

affirmative than male students (9%).

In terms of age variation, the data showed significant differences for most of the dimensions. As shown in

Table 16, the younger students accessed the social media more often than the older students.

With regard to the amount of time devoted to social media, approximately 32% of the students

admitted using social media for 7-10 hours per day, 30% spent 5-6 hours per day, and 29% spent 1-2 hours a

day (Table 17).

Table 13

Most FrequTypes of soc

Table 14

Frequency How often so

Table 15

Frequency Gender

Notes. * p =

GENERA

uently Used Scial media

of Social Meocial media are

of Social MeFreq

= 0.05, 95% c

ATION Z’S SM

Social Media

edia Usage used

edia Usage byquency and perc

confidence.

MARTPHON

y Gender cent of responde

NE AND SOC

ents

CIAL MEDIAA USAGE: A

Frequency

Frequency

A SURVEY

y and percent of

y and percent of

111

f respondents

f respondents

112

Table 16

Frequency Age groups

Notes. * p = 0

Table 17

Amount of Amount of ti

In term

(14%) used

used (37%)

Table 18

Amount of Gender

Notes. * p = 0

GENERA

of Social MeFreq

0.05, 95% conf

f Time Spent oime

ms of gender

d social med

) social medi

f Time Spent oFreq

0.05, 95% conf

ATION Z’S SM

edia Usage byquency and perc

fidence.

on Social Med

r variation, th

dia for 11 hou

a for 1-2 hou

on Social Medquency and perc

fidence.

MARTPHON

y Age cent of responde

dia

he results sho

urs or more p

urs per day tha

dia by Gendecent of responde

NE AND SOC

ents

owed signific

per day than

an female (24

er ents

CIAL MEDIA

Frequenc

cant differenc

males (0.56

4%) students

A USAGE: A

cy and percent o

ce for two dim

%). Convers

(Table 18).

A SURVEY

of respondents

mensions. M

ely, more ma

ore females

ale students

In term

the younge

Table 19

Amount of Age groups

Notes. * p = 0

With

spending to

media (Fig

thought the

gender diff

GENERA

ms of age var

er students sp

f Time Spent oFreq

0.05, 95% conf

regard to the

oo much tim

gures 10-11).

ey were addic

ference for th

ATION Z’S SM

riation, the da

ent more tim

on Social Medquency and perc

fidence.

eir self-perce

me on the Inte

. Furthermore

cted to social

hese variables

Fig

MARTPHON

ata showed si

e on social m

dia by Age cent of responde

eption of add

ernet, and 65

e, about 70%

media (Figur

s.

gure 10. Spendi

NE AND SOC

ignificant diff

media than the

ents

dictive behavi

% believed t

% admitted th

res 12-13). A

ing too much tim

CIAL MEDIA

ference for tw

e older studen

ior, 79% of t

that they wer

hat they wer

As shown in T

me on the Inter

A USAGE: A

wo dimension

nts.

the students

re spending t

e addicted to

Tables 20-23,

rnet.

A SURVEY

ns. As shown

admitted tha

too much tim

o the Interne

there was no

113

in Table 19,

at they were

me on social

et, and 57%

o significant


114

Figure 11. Spending too much time on social media.

Figure 12. Addicted to the Internet.

Figure 13. Addicted to social media.

Table 20

Spending TGender

Table 21

Spending TGender

Table 22

Perceived AGender

Table 23

Perceived AGender

In term

time on the

GENERA

Too Much TimFreq

Too Much on Freq

Addiction to IFreq

Addiction to Freq

ms of age var

e Internet and

ATION Z’S SM

me Spent on Iquency and perc

Social Mediaquency and perc

Internet by Gquency and perc


iation, a large

social media,

MARTPHON

Internet by Gecent of responde

a by Gendercent of respond

Gender cent of responde

a by Gendercent of respond

er percentage

, and that they

NE AND SOC

ender ents

ents

ents

dents

of younger st

y were addict

CIAL MEDIA

tudents admit

ed to the Inter

A USAGE: A

tted that they

rnet and socia

A SURVEY

were spendin

al media (Tab

115

ng too much

bles 24-27).

116

Table 24

Spending TAge groups

Notes. * p = 0

Table 25

Spending TAge groups

Notes. * p = 0

Table 26

Perceived AAge groups

Notes. * p = 0

GENERA

Too Much TimFreq

0.05, 95% conf

Too Much TimFreq

0.05, 95% conf

Addiction to IFreq

0.05, 95% conf

ATION Z’S SM

me on Internequency and perc

fidence.

me on Social Mquency and perc

fidence.

Internet by Aquency and perc

fidence.

MARTPHON

et by Age cent of responde

Media by Agcent of respond

Age cent of respond

NE AND SOC

ents

ge ents

dents

CIAL MEDIAA USAGE: AA SURVEY

Table 27

Perceived AAge groups

Notes. *p = 0

When

38% would

absence of

face-to-fac

(Table 28).

In term

without soc

When

would be b

Furthermor

communica

play more

Table 28

Life Withou

Feelings and

GENERA

Addiction to Freq

0.05, 95% conf

n asked what t

d be depresse

f the social m

ce, 73% woul

. As shown in

ms of age var

cial media as

n asked what

bored, 54% w

re, in the ab

ate more face

sports (Table

ut Social Med

d activities

ATION Z’S SM


fidence.

their life wou

ed, 77% woul

media, 80% be

ld do more e

n Table 29, th

riation, the da

compared to

their life wo

would be dep

bsence of the

e-to-face, 75%

e 31).

dia

MARTPHON

a by Age cent of responde

uld be like wi

ld be out of to

elieved that th

exercise, 64%

here was no s

ata revealed t

o older studen

ould be like w

pressed, 61%

e Internet, 80

% would rea

NE AND SOC

ents

ithout the soc

ouch, and 57%

hey would be

% would play

ignificant gen

that younger

nts (Table 30)

without the I

would be ou

0% believed

ad more book

CIAL MEDIA

cial media, 59

% would be l

e more produ

y more sport

nder differen

students exp

).

Internet in ge

ut of touch, a

that they wo

ks, 74% woul

A USAGE: A

9% admitted t

onely (Table

uctive, and w

ts, and 76% w

ce for most o

ressed more

eneral, about

and 42% wou

ould be more

ld do more ex

Frequenresponde

A SURVEY

that they wou

28). Furtherm

ould commun

would read m

of the dimensi

concerns abo

75% admitte

uld be lonely

e productive

xercise, and

ncy and percent ents

117

uld be bored,

more, in the

nicate more

more books

ions.

out their life

ed that they

(Table 31).

and would

63% would

of

118

Table 29

Life WithouGender

Table 30

Life WithouAge groups

Notes. * p = 0

Table 31

Life WithouFeelings and

GENERA

ut Social MedFrequen

ut Social MedFrequen

0.05, 95% conf

ut Internet d activities

ATION Z’S SM

dia by Gendecy and percent

dia by Age cy and percent

fidence.

MARTPHON

er of respondents

of respondents

NE AND SOCCIAL MEDIAA USAGE: A

Frequency a

A SURVEY

and percent of respondents

In term

However, i

life withou

Table 34

Life WithouFeelings and

Table 35

Life WithouAge groups

Notes. * p = 0

This s

The r

smartphone

in a typical

The data d

males and

smartphone

The re

communica

face-to-fac

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120

often than face-to-face communication. However, younger students used mediated interpersonal

communication more often as compared to older students.

In terms of the nature of smartphone usage, one notable finding reveals that more than two-thirds of Gen

Zers use their smartphones for doing research for class assignments. Other usage of smartphones included

making phone calls, text messaging, emailing, checking the news, posting or viewing photos and videos on

social media, watching TV and movies online, playing music and games, purchasing online, accessing dating

sites, and searching and applying for jobs. With regard to the use of social media, the results revealed that

Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter are the most widely used social media among Generation Z with

majority of them having multiple social media accounts. In terms of frequency of usage, more than half of Gen

Zers accessed various social media several times a day, while nearly 1 in 5 admitted accessing social media

every hour of the day. In terms of gender variation, data showed that more female students accessed the social

media every hour of the day compared to males. As for age variation, the findings revealed that the younger

students accessed the social media more often than the older students. With regard to the amount of time

devoted to social media, nearly one-third of the students admitted using social media for 7-10 hours per day,

and slightly less than one-third of the students spent 5-6 hours per day on social media. There were no

significant differences in terms of gender for most of the dimensions. However, a greater percentage of younger

students spent more time on social media than older students.

As for Generation Z’s perception of their addiction to smartphone and social media, 4 in 5 students

admitted that they were spending an excessive amount of time on the Internet, and two-thirds believed that they

were spending too much time on social media. Furthermore, 7 in 10 students admitted that they were addicted

to the Internet, and nearly two-thirds believed they were addicted to social media. Although there was no

significant gender difference, younger students were more likely to admit that they were spending too much

time on the Internet and social media, and that they were addicted to the Internet and social media.

When asked what their life would be like without the social media, roughly 6 in 10 students admitted that

they would be bored and lonely, 4 in 10 would be depressed, and 8 in 10 would be out of touch. Furthermore,

in the absence of the Internet, about 8 in 10 believed that they would be more productive and would

communicate more face-to-face, 7 in 10 would read more books and would do more exercise, and 6 in 10

would play more sports. Younger students expressed more concerns about their life without the Internet and

social media as compared to older students. There was no significant gender difference for this variable.

The aforementioned discussion of data analysis indicates that although there are some positive uses, it

appears that Generation Zers are spending an excessive amount of time on their smartphones and social media,

and that most of them are addicted to their smartphones and social media. These findings may have significant

implications for counseling and intervention for parents, educators, and policy makers. Furthermore, the results

may also have significance for marketers, advertisers, mass media, and apps creators who target the Gen Z with

their products, services, and contents, as majority of Gen Zers use their smartphones and social media for

networking, online purchasing, research, news consumption, and entertainment.

This research was based on a non-random sample and focused on Generation Z, and thereby limiting the

ability to generalize the results to the larger population. Future research with a random sample could focus on

additional variables and dimensions relating to addictive usage of smartphone and social media, and its

implications for the personal, educational, and professional lives of all demographics.


121

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1-Generation Z’s Smartphone and Social Media Usage A Survey

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