Vol. 2, Issue 2, Part A (2025)

Background: The rapid expansion of social networking sites (SNS) has significantly influenced the behaviour and academic life of adolescents. Excessive or uncontrolled use of SNS is emerging as a form of behavioural addiction, potentially affecting academic performance, concentration, and daily functioning. Teenagers, being the most active users of digital platforms, are particularly vulnerable to developing SNS dependence.

 Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 220 teenagers aged 15-18 years from selected higher secondary schools in Bhubaneswar. Participants were selected using disproportionate stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a socio-demographic questionnaire, Social Media Addiction Scale (SMAS), and an Academic Performance Self-Assessment Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and Karl Pearson’s correlation coefficient.

Results: The study revealed that 57.3% of teenagers had moderate addiction, 32.7% had severe addiction, and only 10% showed mild dependence on social networking sites. Regarding academic achievement, 69.5% demonstrated average performance, 21.8% good, and only 8.6% excellent performance. A statistically significant association was found between SNS dependence and academic performance (Chi square = 62.460, p = 0.000). A significant negative correlation was also observed between SNS addiction and academic performance (r = -0.402, p = 0.000), indicating that higher SNS dependence is linked with poorer academic outcomes.

Conclusion: The findings indicate a high prevalence of social networking site dependence among teenagers, which adversely affects their academic performance. The negative correlation underscores the need for awareness programs, parental monitoring, and school-based interventions to promote healthy and balanced SNS usage among adolescents