Social media usage and life satisfaction among undergraduate students at a South African university.

Abstract

The study sought to investigate the relationship between social media and life satisfaction among University of KwaZulu Natal students. The study was conducted at the University of KwaZulu Natal, Howard Campus. The study employed the quantitative methodology. Time-Location Sampling (also known as venue sampling) was used to select 100 social work students at the University of KwaZulu Natal, Howard campus. For data gathering, a structured questionnaire was administered to students from the Life Satisfaction scale. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SSPS) and interpreted in the manner thereafter. A total of 100 participants answered the questionnaire. The Kai square test of independence was tested between social media usage and life satisfaction and the results indicate that the association was not significant. Further, the Kai square test was also taken for social media and gender and results suggests that there is no difference between male and female when it comes to social media use. Accordingly, the study recommends the introduction of social media education as an extra curriculum programme taking cognizance of a fundamental need to raise awareness on privacy, cyberbullying, and the dangers of meeting with online strangers.