Addiction among Millennials of Internet Usage (Social Networking Sites) in Bandung, West Java

Abstract

Background: Internet is one of the most powerful media of the 21st century and has revolutionized education and social communication. The internet (Social Networking Sites or SNSs) has a population of over seven million. Internet excessive usage can causes some problems, such as addiction and behavioral symptoms. Internet (SNSs) addiction is a major mental health problem in adolescents worldwide, particularly in Bandung, West Java. Objective: The aim of this research is to examine the relation between internet usage and internet addiction through Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT) in Millennials with a focus on Social Networking Sites (SNSs). Methods: Quantitative and qualitative approach were used to collect the data, with a total of 277 respondents in Bandung, West Java. Each participant filled out a questionnaire consisting of the Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT), along with general questions relating to internet usage (duration and SNSs). Result: The results of this research suggest that younger respondents more recently acquaintance (p-value = 0.001858). There were 50.20% respondents used internet more than 6 hours (0.4968). The average IAT score 58.61 point, 73.64% respondents had a moderate level of addiction. IAT score will be decreased along with growing age (p-value = 0.001685). Internet addiction was increasing along with the longer duration of internet usage (p-value = 1.252e-14). The most used SNSs are Instagram, Line, WhatsApp, YouTube, and sometimes added Facebook or Game. Conclusion: These findings suggest that there is an association between internet usage (SNSs) and addiction in Millennials. Findings also highlight that younger user have more ploblem than the older user. SNSs increased the internet addiction score and an addiction may lead to mental health problem also behavioral symptoms.