Self-Control as A Mediator in The Relationship between Social Media Usage and Happiness for Thai Students in BKK

Self-Control as A Mediator in The Relationship between Social Media Usage and

Happiness for Thai Students in BKK
Introduction

Background of the Study
More than 3.5 billion people worldwide, or 45% of the world's population, use social
media. The use of social media is inescapable and is similar to addiction. On average, a person
uses social media for three hours a day. Today’s population uses one or more social media
platforms to a greater or lesser extent. Since 91% of all social media users obtain social channels
through mobile devices, the usage of mobile-friendly information all over social media is rising
quickly (Newport Academy, 2022). Similarly, mobile platforms account for almost 80% of all
time spent on social media sites. Of the 2.6 billion active users, Facebook is the most commonly
used social media platform. The high usage of social media has posed both positive and negative
impacts on the users, where adverse effects mainly arise due to the failed social media use self-
control. Self-control can let the users associate with the relevant content and restrict themselves
to the positive side of social media. The proposal will look at social media's positive and
negative impacts, and the role self-control plays in determining Thai students' happiness in BKK.
Statement of the Problem(s)
Addiction is a common problem with social media usage. Some people develop an
addiction to social media, which may lead to the need for societal validation and approval due to
online influence. Addiction may lead to issues with self-control due to lifestyle influences and
routine updates. This may affect one's relationships, career, or academic performance. The
problems associated with lack of social media self-control necessitate action in the fight against
the detrimental impacts on personal happiness to ensure the welfare of the victims.

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Purpose of the Study (objectives)
This study aims to look into the effects of social media self-control on personal happiness. This
study will specifically seek to determine why social media self-control can affect the enjoyment
and the mechanisms by which social media self-control enhances personal satisfaction. The
study will consider both the negative impacts of lack of social media control and the positive
effects of using social media among Thai Students in BKK.
Significance of the Study
This study is significant because it demonstrates social media self-control's positive and
negative effects on personal happiness. People who struggle to regulate their use of social media
are much more inclined to be dissatisfied with their lives, which has ramifications for both
people and society. In contrast, those with greater self-control over their utilization of social
media are happier. The study is significant as it will offer recommendations on healthy behavior
to foster a happy life using social media platforms.
Operational definition of Terms
Social media self-control - The ability to maintain self-control while using social media. This
might entail things such as not spending a lot of time on social media, not sharing too much
personal information, as well as not arguing with other users.
Social media addiction - Addiction to social media is defined as too much use of social media
sites to the juncture where it starts to adversely affect one's daily life. This can manifest as
experiencing anxiety or depressed by not using social media, ignoring work or school to favor of
social media, or by using social media to flee from real-world problems.
Conceptual Framework

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The social comparison theory can be used to explain the impact of social media self-
control failure on personal happiness. According to this theory, individuals equate themselves
with others affecting their level of satisfaction. When people compare themselves to those who
perform worse, they feel better about themselves, and their happiness levels rise. When people
relate themselves to others doing better over them, they naturally feel worse, and their levels of
happiness decrease. The theory advocates for social media self-regulation in ensuring the online
platforms do not tamper with personal happiness.

Literature Review

It is impossible to overlook the impact of social media on teenagers' happiness. Many
teenagers use social media to share their interests and experiences, connect with new people, and
stay current on the latest trends. Many teenagers' lives now revolve around social medi