Duhok Polytechnic University

Shekhan Technical College of

Health Public Health
Department
Stage 3

The impact of social media

Prepared by: Saad

anter
content

1-Abstract
2-introduction
3Literature Review
4-method and methodology
5-result
6-Discussion
7-cunclusion
 Abstract

The rapid increase in the era of technological revolution and the

Internet, especially social media has created a new reality in the
daily lives of societies in general and university students in
particular. These social tools have become vast spaces for
exchanging ideas, making new friends, recommendations,
sources of information, business and e-shopping.In this study, we
have emphasized the impact of social media on sleep and eating
patterns and the impact of daily activities.By looking at the
demographics of students of Duhok Polytechnic shekhan
University in front of the three departments (public health, nursing,
medical laboratory).
Introduction
In recent years, people are getting much more familiar with social
media. People have started to use social media as a new method
to learn information about the things that they are most interested
in, those that are very popular in society, and even to use it to
relax and waste time. Because of the efficiency that social media
has bought to us, the ways of people’s communication have
dramatically changed. Moreover, social media has not only
brought changes to human society but caused several
psychological problems. The World Health Organization estimates
that about 10 to 20 percent of kids and teens globally experience
mental health problems. According to data, 75% of mental health
issues are discovered by age 18, and 50% are discovered by age
14 [1]. Social media has also caused people to become addicted
to it, capturing their attention and thus taking over their lives.
Social media addiction can be seen as Internet addiction and
often manifests as obsessive and excessive use of social media
[2]. People can no longer control their time using social media and
realize the wrong side of it. Despite mental health issues bought
by social media, social media has also changed people’s way of
life, including consumers’ decision-making behaviors and political
influence. Social media is a new way of communicating between
consumers and marketers.
Literature Review

Connotation
Following Kaplan and Haenlein, The term "social media" refers to
a group of internet programs that facilitate the creation and
dissemination of user-generated content and are built on Web
2.0's tenets and practices [3]. Which individuals can more easily
contact one another online? Examples include WeChat,
Whatsapp, Tiktok, Instagram, etc. More easily than ever before,
people can access the information of others. They now have
access to more broad and varied material than abstract.

The impact of social media on social behavior and activity:

Undoubtedly, social media is widely used in all genders, but
undoubtedly social media is one of the tools that makes people
mix in society and reduce the love between family and friends
Social media also causes a large number of people with mental
illness, mostly children and adolescents over the age .
impact social media of sleep
Social media use has become a common habit among students,
but excessive usage, especially at night, can negatively impact
their sleep. Many students spend hours scrolling through social
media feeds, chatting with friends, or watching videos before
bedtime. This increased screen time exposes them to blue light
emitted from devices, which reduces the production of melatonin,
the hormone responsible for sleep regulation. As a result,
students struggle to fall asleep and may experience poor sleep
quality.
Another issue caused by social media is sleep disruption. Many
students keep their phones next to their beds, allowing
notifications and messages to wake them up throughout the night.
These interruptions prevent them from getting deep, restful sleep,
leading to tiredness the next day. Additionally, social media is
highly engaging and often addictive, making students stay up later
than planned. This reduces their total sleep duration, which
affects their concentration, memory, and academic performance.
Besides disrupting sleep patterns, social media can also increase
stress and anxiety. Students may experience cyberbullying, peer
pressure, or negative self-comparisons, which heighten their
stress levels. When students go to bed feeling anxious, their
minds remain active, making it harder to relax and fall asleep.
Over time, this can contribute to chronic sleep issues such as
insomnia.
Furthermore, continuous nighttime social media use can shift
students' natural sleep-wake cycles. Many students develop a
habit of staying up late and waking up late, which disrupts their
daily routines and school schedules. This condition, known as
delayed sleep phase disorder (DSPD), makes it difficult for
students to wake up early for classes, leading to fatigue and poor
academic performance.
To reduce the negative impact of social media on sleep, students
can take several steps. Setting screen time limits and avoiding
social media at least an hour before bed can help. Using night
mode features on devices can also reduce blue light exposure.
Keeping phones away from the bed prevents sleep disturbances
caused by notifications. Additionally, developing a bedtime routine
with relaxing activities like reading or meditation can signal the
body that it is time to sleep. Finally, raising awareness about the
effects of excessive social media use on sleep can encourage
students to adopt healthier habits.

The Impact of Social Media on Eating Habits

Social media has a significant influence on eating habits, affecting
what, when, and how people, especially students and young
individuals, consume food. While it provides access to nutrition
information and food trends, it can also lead to unhealthy eating
behaviors.
One of the main ways social media impacts eating is through food
advertisements and influencer endorsements. Many brands and
influencers promote fast food, sugary drinks, and processed
snacks, making these options appear more appealing. Constant
exposure to such content can lead to cravings and unhealthy
eating choices. Additionally, food challenges and viral eating
trends often encourage overconsumption or extreme dieting,
which can negatively affect physical health.
Social media also plays a role in shaping body image and
perceptions of diet. Many users, especially teenagers, compare
their bodies to unrealistic beauty standards promoted by
influencers and celebrities. This can lead to disordered eating
patterns, such as restrictive dieting, binge eating, or skipping
meals to achieve a certain body type. The pressure to maintain a
“perfect” image can increase stress and anxiety, further affecting
eating behaviors.
Moreover, social media use can contribute to mindless eating.
Scrolling through social media while eating can lead to distraction,
making individuals less aware of their food intake. This can result
in overeating, as they fail to recognize feelings of fullness. Late-
night social media use can also lead to irregular eating patterns,
with students snacking on unhealthy foods while staying up late.
Despite its negative effects, social media can also promote
healthy eating when used wisely. Many nutritionists and health
influencers share valuable information about balanced diets, meal
planning, and healthy recipes. Social media campaigns that
encourage mindful eating, hydration, and fitness can help people
make better food choices.
To minimize the negative impact of social media on eating habits,
individuals should be mindful of the content they consume, follow
credible nutrition sources, and avoid comparing themselves to
unrealistic body standards. Developing healthy eating habits,
such as eating without distractions and choosing nutritious foods
over processed ones, can improve overall well-being.
 Method and Methodology
The study investigated the favourite social media and the amount
of time which is spent on social media by the university students
for general and academic learning purposes. The paper was
designed on a mixed-method and inductive reasoning approach.
The scope and setting of the paper were undergraduate students
of Dhouk University shekhan-, Iraq The data were collected
based on probability-stratified random sampling and cluster
random sampling via a structured survey questionnaire.

Resulte
This research investigates how social media is used for
educational purposes among students of Duhok-Sheikhan
Polytechnic University in Kurdistan-Iraq and what is its impact on
them. A sample size of (No. 265) of both males and females was
collected from all students of general health, nursing and medical
laboratory departments.
the participation rate of females was higher than males (56.98%)
and males (43.02%) as shown in the figure

Figure 2: The average duration of social media use per day, which
was a maximum of 4-6 hours(40.38 percent),Then 1 to 3 hours a
day (38.49% precent),More than 6 hours by 16.96%
percentag,The lowest percentage of people who used less than
an hour a day was 4.15 percent
Figure 3 Social media had an impact on students' eating habits at
48.68 percent, while 51.32 percent did not

Figure 4: In terms of sleep, students sleep between 4-6 hours a

night with 43.77 percent, followed by 7-9 hours with 42.26
percent, less than four hours with 10.94 percent, and the lowest
with more than 9 hours with 3.02 percent.
Figure 5: Social Media 52.45 percent believed that social media
had an impact on life and interaction with family, and 47.55
percent thought the opposite
 Discussion
The findings of this study highlight both the positive and negative
impacts of social media on students’ daily lives. While social
media provides information, entertainment, and connectivity, it
also significantly affects sleep quality, eating habits, and social
interactions.
Social Media and Sleep Patterns
One of the most concerning impacts of social media is its effect
on sleep quality. Many students use social media at night,
exposing themselves to blue light from screens, which reduces
melatonin production, making it harder to fall asleep. The study
shows that a majority of students sleep only 4-6 hours per night,
which is below the recommended amount. Sleep deprivation
negatively impacts memory, focus, and academic performance.
Additionally, notifications and messages cause nighttime
disturbances, preventing deep, restful sleep.
To counter these effects, students should consider setting screen-
time limits, using night mode features, and keeping phones away
from the bed to improve sleep quality.
Impact on Eating Habits
Social media significantly influences eating behavior, with 48.68%
of students acknowledging its effect on their diet. Food
advertisements and influencer promotions make junk food and
unhealthy diets more appealing. Many social media trends
promote overeating (food challenges) or extreme dieting, both of
which can harm physical health. Additionally, social media users
tend to engage in mindless eating, where they consume food
while scrolling, leading to overeating and poor digestion.
On the other hand, social media can also promote healthy eating
habits when used wisely. Many nutritionists share meal plans,
healthy recipes, and fitness advice. To maximize the benefits,
students should follow credible nutrition sources and avoid
comparing themselves to unrealistic body standards.
Effects on Social Interactions
Social media is a double-edged sword when it comes to social
relationships. While it enables people to stay connected and
communicate instantly, it also reduces face-to-face interactions
with family and friends. More than 52.45% of students believe that
social media negatively affects their relationships. Spending too
much time on social media can weaken real-life connections,
making people feel more isolated despite being digitally
connected.
To maintain a balance, students should be encouraged to engage
in more offline activities, set screen-time limits, and prioritize in-
person interactions with family and friends.
Conclusion
The study highlights the significant impact of social media on
students' sleep, eating habits, and social interactions. Excessive
use, especially at night, leads to sleep disturbances, reduced
academic performance, and increased stress levels. Additionally,
social media influences eating behaviors, promoting unhealthy
food choices and mindless eating due to advertisements and
influencer trends. Furthermore, while social media enhances
communication, it also reduces face-to-face interactions with
family and friends.

To mitigate these negative effects, students should limit nighttime

screen time, follow credible nutrition sources, and balance their
online and offline interactions to maintain a healthier lifestyle.
Raising awareness about the potential risks of excessive social
media use can help students develop more mindful habits.