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Effect of Social Media Detox Programmes on Problematic Social Media Use among University Students in Nigeria

Abstract

Problematic social media use has become an emerging behavioural and mental health concern among university students, who increasingly rely on social networking platforms for communication, entertainment, academic interaction, news, and social connection. Excessive or uncontrolled social media use may interfere with students' academic activities, sleep, interpersonal relationships, concentration, productivity, and psychological wellbeing. University students may experience difficulty controlling the duration and frequency of social media use, repeated checking of social media platforms, preoccupation with online activities, and continued use despite negative consequences. Social media detox programmes provide a structured approach to reducing excessive social media engagement through temporary reduction or restriction of social media use, self-monitoring, digital wellbeing education, goal setting, alternative activities, and behavioural strategies. Against this background, this study investigates the effect of social media detox programmes on problematic social media use among university students in Nigeria. The study will be anchored on Social Cognitive Theory, Behavioural Theory, and the Technology Acceptance Model. Social Cognitive Theory emphasizes the roles of self-regulation, self-efficacy, behavioural learning, environmental influences, and reinforcement in changing patterns of social media use. Behavioural Theory explains how patterns of excessive social media engagement may be influenced by cues, rewards, reinforcement, and established behavioural routines, while structured detox programmes may introduce alternative behaviours and reduce reinforcement associated with excessive use. The Technology Acceptance Model provides a framework for understanding students' acceptance and use of digital wellbeing tools, self-monitoring applications, screen-time management features, and other technologies that may support healthier social media behaviours. Collectively, these theoretical perspectives provide a suitable framework for explaining how social media detox programmes may influence problematic social media use among university students in Nigeria. The study will adopt a quantitative quasi-experimental research design. The study population will comprise undergraduate students enrolled in selected public and private universities across Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique will be used to select states, universities, faculties, departments, and eligible students. Social media detox programmes will be measured using indicators such as duration of detoxification, reduction in daily social media exposure, screen-time monitoring, social media restriction strategies, self-monitoring activities, goal setting, digital wellbeing education, alternative offline activities, peer support, behavioural guidance, and follow-up activities. Problematic social media use will be assessed using indicators such as excessive time spent on social media, inability to control use, preoccupation with social media, repeated checking, withdrawal-like feelings when unable to access social media, continued use despite negative consequences, interference with academic activities, sleep disruption, reduced productivity, and disruption of interpersonal relationships. Data will be collected using structured questionnaires, validated problematic social media use instruments, screen-time records, digital wellbeing applications, and relevant programme participation records. Problematic social media use will be assessed before and after participation in the detox programme. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize students' demographic and academic characteristics, social media usage patterns, and levels of problematic social media use. Inferential statistical techniques, including paired sample tests, independent sample tests, chi-square tests, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis where appropriate, will be used to determine the effect of social media detox programmes on problematic social media use. Diagnostic tests will also be conducted to assess the reliability, validity, and robustness of the findings. The study is expected to find that social media detox programmes have a significant positive effect by reducing problematic social media use among university students in Nigeria. Students who participate in structured detox programmes are expected to demonstrate reductions in excessive social media use, frequency of checking social media platforms, preoccupation with online activities, and interference with academic, social, and daily activities compared with their baseline levels or students without similar intervention exposure. Temporary reduction of social media use, combined with self-monitoring, goal setting, digital wellbeing education, alternative recreational activities, and behavioural strategies, may help students develop greater control over their online behaviour. The intervention may also encourage healthier time management and greater engagement in offline academic, social, and recreational activities. However, academic dependence on social media, peer pressure, fear of missing out, habitual use, limited motivation, easy access to smartphones, and difficulty maintaining reduced use after the intervention may limit the sustainability of the programme. The study therefore expects structured, practical, and sustainable social media detox programmes to contribute significantly to reducing problematic social media use among university students in Nigeria. The study is expected to contribute to the literature on social media detox programmes, problematic social media use, university students, digital wellbeing, behavioural health, social media use, technology-related behaviours, mental health promotion, and public health in Nigeria. The findings will provide useful information to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission, university administrators, student affairs departments, counselling centres, psychologists, public health practitioners, digital wellbeing educators, technology developers, student organizations, and policymakers regarding strategies for promoting healthier social media use among university students. The study will also provide evidence-based recommendations for incorporating digital wellbeing education into university health programmes, promoting self-monitoring of social media use, strengthening student counselling support, encouraging balanced online and offline activities, developing practical social media management programmes, and establishing sustainable digital wellbeing initiatives across universities in Nigeria.

Keywords: Social media detox programmes, problematic social media use, university students, digital wellbeing, social media use, behavioural health, technology-related behaviours, self-regulation, mental health promotion, Nigeria, public health.