Mathematical Model Formulation and Analysis on Social Media Addiction Among Federal University Dutsin-Ma Students

Abstract

Social Media is a serious problem in society today and many students are addicted to Media. Social media has become an indispensable part of contemporary issues in Federal University Dutsin-Ma, influencing how students communicate, share information, and build relationships. The advent of these platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and others has revolutionized the way students interact and consume information. However, this transition has also given rise to concerns about the addictive nature of social media usage and its potential impact on mental health and well-being. The concern over social media addiction is not only limited to its impact on individual well-being but also extends to its broader societal implications. While existing research has provided valuable insights into the qualitative aspects of social media  addiction, there is a noticeable gap in the literature regarding the development and application of mathematical models to analyze and predict addictive behaviors in the digital realm. In this research, we developed deterministic models for Social Media Addiction driven by the Social Media User in Federal University Dutsin-Ma Students taking into consideration factors such as social media usage pattern, factors contributing to social media addiction. Two approaches were developed, one which is descriptive analysis, where data from 200 students in the university were collected using Goggle Form as instrument, and then analyzed. The other which is the Mathematical Model formulation and Analysis on Social Media Addiction. The models were analyzed through the determination of the model’s steady states and their respective stabilities analysis in terms of the Social Media Addiction reproduction numbers R0. The analysis shows that Social Media Addiction-free equilibrium (SMAFE) is locally asymptotically stable if R0 < 1 and unstable if R0 > 1. The SEARC model simulation examines the dynamics of social media user and addiction among Federal University Dutsin-Ma students. The model considers five states: Susceptible (S), Exposed (E), Addicted (A), Recovered (R), and Self-controlled (C). The numerical simulation reveals that social media addiction is a significant concern, with a high proportion of students becoming addicted. The model also highlights the importance of self-control and recovery in mitigating the negative impacts of social media addiction. The sensitivity analysis of the model parameters was done to determine where the campaigns and interventions should be targeted for effective control of the addiction. The results from the simulations therefore, illustrated that increasing the rate of interventions reduces the number of social media addicts in the University. The model also highlights the importance of self-control and recovery in mitigating the negative impacts of social media addiction. Demographic changes and other factors can influence the prevalence of social media addiction. In summary, results showed that mass media awareness against social media user reduces Social Media Addiction. From the study, it was concluded that if social media intervention is emphasized and mass media campaign is also regulated then social media addiction will be reduced from the University. The study suggested that the Students should be encouraged to engage in offline activities and hobbies to reduce their reliance on social media.