TTLV: The impact of social networks on the lives of boarding students at universities in Hanoi

MASTER'S THESIS INFORMATION

1. Student's full name: Nguyen Trang Quyen 2. Gender: Male

3. Date of birth: October 2, 1985

4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Student recognition decision No. 5626/QD-XHNV, dated December 29, 2023 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

6. Changes in training process: No

7. Thesis topic: The impact of social networks on the lives of boarding students at universities in Hanoi

8. Major: Journalism; Code: 8320101

9. Scientific advisor: Associate Professor, Dr. Dinh Van Huong - University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

10. Summary of thesis results:

The thesis “The impact of social networks on the lives of boarding students at universities in Hanoi” surveyed 500 students at 5 universities, aiming to analyze the impact of social networks on learning, psychology and social life. The results show that students use social networks every day, mainly Facebook, TikTok and Zalo. Social networks help them expand their connections, study, reduce loneliness, but also cause distraction and emotional dependence. There is a negative correlation between the time spent on the network and academic results, and a positive correlation with the level of social integration. The group of users often experience stress, anxiety and FOMO. The thesis proposes a “two-way influence” model and a social network usage index.

In addition, the study noted differences by gender and year of study, with first-year students and women reporting higher levels of emotional sensitivity. The timing of online use was also strongly associated with reduced sleep quality and decreased daytime concentration. The level of online self-image was associated with social stress and comparison pressure. The study also found that students with better time management and digital skills experienced fewer negative effects. Finally, the study recommends that universities develop “Healthy Social Media Use” programs that combine communication, psychological counseling, and digital skills education.

11. Practical application:

The research results provide a scientific basis for universities to develop digital skills education programs, communicate about safe social media use, and improve learning efficiency for boarding students. In addition, the findings on stress, FOMO, and concentration loss can be directly applied to psychological counseling, dormitory management, and the design of mental health support activities.

12. Further research directions:

Further studies could extend the mixed-methods or long-term follow-up to assess changes in students’ online behavior and mental health. At the same time, it is necessary to delve into the influence of algorithms, harmful content, and the role of digital literacy in reducing the negative impacts of social media.

13. Published works related to the project: None

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: Nguyen Trang Quyen 2. Sex: Male

3. Date of birth: October 2, 1985 4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Admission decision number: 5626/QD - XHNV Dated December 29, 2023 from Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in academic process: None

7. Official thesis title: The Influence of Social Media on the lives of Dormitor Students at Universities in Hanoi.

8. Major: Journalism Studies Code: 8320101

9. Supervisors: Assoc. Prof. Dr. and Meritorious professor Dinh Van Huong, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

10. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

The thesis titled“The Impact of Social Media on the Lives of Dormitory Students at Universities in Hanoi" surveyed 500 students across five universities to analyze how social media influenced their academic performance, psychological well-being, and social life. The findings indicate that students use social media daily, mainly Facebook, TikTok, and Zalo. Social media helps them expand connections, support learning, and reduce feelings of loneliness, yet it also leads to academic distraction and emotional dependency. There is a negative correlation between time spent on social media and academic performance, alongside a positive with social integration. Frequent users tend to experience stress, anxiety, and FOMO. The thesis proposes a “two-way influence model” and introduces a social media usage index.

In addition, the research identifies differences across gender and academic years, with first-year students and female students showing higher emotional sensitivity. Late-night usage is strongly associated with poorer sleep quality and reduced daytime concentration. The degree of online self-presentation is linked to social stress and comparative pressure. The thesis also finds that students with stronger time-management and digital literacy skills experience fewer negative effects. Finally, the study recommends that universities develop “Healthy Social Media Use” programs integrating communication campaigns, psychological counseling, and digital literacy education.

11. Practical applicability:

The findings provide a scientific basis for universities to develop digital literacy programs, promote safe and effective social media use, and enhance the learning outcomes of dormitory students. In addition, insights on stress, FOMO, and reduced concentration can be applied directly in psychological counseling, dormitory management, and student mental-health support activities.

12. Further research directions:

Future studies may expand using mixed methods or longitudinal designs to track changes in social media behavior and students' psychological well-being over time. It is also necessary to explore more deeply the influence of algorithms, harmful content, and the role of digital skills in mitigating negative impacts of social media.

13. Thesis-related publications: None