Influence of Social Media Addiction on Adolescent Prosocial Behaviour Development A Case of Kiota School Dagoretti Subcounty in Nairobi Kenya

Abstract

Social media addiction has become a pressing issue, particularly among adolescents, due to its potential to influence social development and behaviors such as empathy, cooperation, and altruism. This study investigated the influence of social media addiction on prosocial behavior development among adolescents at Kiota School in Dagoretti Sub-County, Nairobi, Kenya. The objectives were to: (1) assess the prevalence and severity of social media addiction; (2) evaluate its relationship with sociodemographic characteristics; (3) analyze its impact on prosocial behavior; and (4) examine the moderating effects of parental supervision and peer influence. Grounded in Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), Self-Determination Theory (SDT), and Behavioral Addiction Theory, the study employed a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. The target population comprised 500 adolescents aged 13–19, with a stratified random sample of 222 participants ensuring proportional representation. Data were collected using validated questionnaires (n=179, 80.63% response rate) and semi-structured interviews (n=19, 76.00% response rate). Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Pearson correlation, and regression modeling in SPSS version 28, while qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis. The findings revealed a 76.6% prevalence of social media addiction among adolescents, with 42.5% classified as moderate and 34.1% as high addiction levels. Younger participants and females exhibited higher addiction levels, though chi-square tests showed no statistically significant relationships between addiction and age (χ²=29.36, p=.207), gender (χ²=4.29, p=.368), or socioeconomic status (χ²=6.52, p=.590). Regression analysis revealed no significant association between social media addiction and prosocial behavior (β=.034, p=.650, R²=.001). Moderation analysis indicated that neither parental supervision nor peer influence significantly moderated the relationship between social media addiction and prosocial behavior. However, qualitative findings revealed that adolescents with high social media use reported reduced empathy in face-to-face interactions and prioritized online relationships over real-world connections. The study concluded that social media addiction is highly prevalent among Kenyan adolescents but that its quantifiable impact on prosocial behavior requires further longitudinal investigation. Recommendations include implementing digital literacy programs, enhancing parental guidance strategies, and conducting longitudinal studies to capture developmental changes over time.