Chapter 1

The Problem and Its Setting

In today’s digital world, social media has become an integral part of daily life, especially for young people
like Grade 7 students. With platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and others, students
have the ability to stay connected with friends, share their experiences, and access information from all
over the world. Social media has made communication faster and more convenient, allowing students to
express themselves, stay updated on trends, and interact with people they may never meet in person. It
offers many advantages, such as fostering creativity, providing entertainment, and helping students
connect with others who share similar interests.

However, while social media can have positive effects, there are growing concerns about how excessive
use of these platforms can negatively impact the development of essential social skills. Social skills are the
abilities we use to interact and communicate with others, and they are vital for building strong relationships
and functioning well in society. These skills include things like knowing how to start and maintain
conversations, understanding and responding to social cues, and collaborating effectively with others. For
Grade 7 students, who are transitioning from childhood into adolescence, social skills are more important
than ever. They are crucial not just for making friends but for succeeding academically, participating in
group work, and feeling confident in social situations.

While social media can be a valuable tool for communication, it can also become a barrier to the face-to-
face interactions that help students develop these important skills. Research suggests that the more time
students spend online, the less time they may spend practicing social interactions in real life. Instead of
engaging with classmates during lunch breaks, students might be checking their phones or scrolling
through social media. As a result, they may miss out on opportunities to strengthen their social skills, such
as reading body language, practicing empathy, and engaging in meaningful conversations. Additionally,
students who spend a lot of time on social media may develop a habit of communicating through text or
images, which can limit their ability to express themselves verbally or understand the nuances of spoken
language.

This research aims to determine the impact of social media usage duration on the social skills of the Grade
7 students of Philippine School Doha. We want to find out if there is a connection between the time
students spend online and how well they can communicate and interact with their peers in person. Our
focus will be on understanding the impact of different types of social media activities—such as chatting with
friends, watching videos, or posting photos—and how these activities relate to students’ ability to engage in
face-to-face conversations, work in groups, and build relationships with others.

The importance of this research lies in the fact that social skills are essential for a wide range of activities,
both inside and outside the classroom. Students who are confident in their social skills are more likely to
participate in discussions, ask for help when needed, work well with others in group projects, and build
lasting friendships. On the other hand, students who struggle with social interactions may feel isolated,
anxious, or left out, which can affect their mental health and overall school experience. By better
understanding how social media affects the development of these skills, we hope to help students,
teachers, and parents recognize the importance of balancing online activities with face-to-face interactions.

One of the goals of this research is to provide insight into how students can manage their social media use
to avoid its potential negative impact on their social skills. We want to explore whether setting limits on the
amount of time spent online can encourage students to engage more in real-life interactions. By
understanding the role of social media in students’ social development, we aim to offer suggestions for
creating healthier online habits that will support their growth as well-rounded individuals. This includes
promoting activities that encourage communication, teamwork, and emotional intelligence, which are
essential for success in school and later in life.

Additionally, we hope to raise awareness about the importance of social skills and how they affect not only
academic success but also students’ emotional well-being. Developing strong social skills helps students
feel more comfortable in social settings, builds their confidence, and enhances their ability to navigate
challenging situations. In a time when online communication is becoming increasingly dominant, it is crucial
that students continue to prioritize face-to-face interactions that will help them develop and refine these
skills.

Ultimately, our research seeks to offer a better understanding of the relationship between social media use
and social skills. By studying this connection, we hope to contribute to a broader conversation about the
role of technology in students’ lives and how it can be used in a way that supports their overall
development. Our goal is to help students recognize that while social media can be fun and informative, it is
equally important to nurture the social skills that will help them succeed in school and build meaningful
connections with others. By encouraging a healthy balance between online and offline interactions, we can
ensure that students grow up to be confident, empathetic, and effective communicators—skills that are
essential for their future success in both personal and professional settings.

In conclusion, this research will examine how social media usage affects the social skills of Grade 7
students. As social media becomes an even more central part of daily life, it is important to understand its
effects on young people’s ability to communicate and interact with others. By exploring this topic, we hope
to offer practical solutions that will help students strike a balance between enjoying the benefits of social
media and developing the real-world social skills necessary for their academic and personal growth.
Through this study, we aim to provide valuable insights that will help students, parents, and educators work
together to create a healthy and supportive environment for learning and social development.
Background of the Study

Nowadays, social media has become a huge part of students’ everyday lives. Students around the
world, and in Philippine School Doha spend a lot of time on different social media platforms. And due to
the increase in the popularity of social media, They tend to spend even more time on their phones or other
devices to use these social media platforms. Previous studies have shown that social media does have
some benefits, such as being able to connect with close ones by using social media apps for messaging
and calling, and providing platforms that allow students to freely express themselves. Other studies shed
light on how social media also has negative effects on students’ social skills, like cyberbullying, which can
decrease students’ self-esteem. These studies go into detail on how social media can have varying
degrees of impact when it comes to students’ social skills. Additionally, they describe how social media has
both a positive and negative effect on students’ social skills. Understanding how social media usage
duration can affect one’s social skills in school can help students learn how to manage their time on social
media properly. Learning about it will allow students to prevent receiving its disadvantages and allow them
to improve their social skills even further. With this information gathered, the researchers plan to conduct
research to study how social media can impact the grade 7 students’ social skills.

Statement of the Problem

This research aims to determine the impact of social media usage duration on the social skills of
the Grade 7 students of Philippine School Doha. Specifically, this study aims to answer the following
questions:
1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of:
a. age and
b. sex?
2. How does the duration of social media usage impact on the social skills of the
Grade 7 students?
a. What is the average daily duration of social media usage among students?
b. How do different levels of social media usage duration relate to social skills, such as
communication, empathy, and teamwork? and
c. Are there significant differences in social skills between students with higher or lower social
media usage duration?
3. How can students use social media in a healthy way while also practicing their
social skills?
a. What fun activities can students try instead of being on social media for too long?
b. How can parents and teachers support students in making new friends, talking to others,
and working together as a team? and
c. What simple tips can help students enjoy social media responsibly; staying connected with
friends and family both online and offline?
Significance of the Study

The significance of this study on the Impact of Social Media Usage Duration on the Social Skills
of the Grade 7 Students of Philippine School Doha is crucial for the following stakeholders:

1. For Students: This study helps students become more aware of the effects their social media
habits have on their social skills. By understanding these impacts, they may be encouraged to find
a healthier balance between online and offline interactions, leading to improved communication
and relationships with their peers.

2. For Teachers: Teachers can benefit from this study by gaining insights into how social media
usage influences students' behavior and social skills. With this knowledge, they can adapt their
teaching methods to include activities that promote active social engagement, teamwork, and
communication skills in the classroom.

3. For Administrators: School administrators can use the findings to design policies and programs
that encourage balanced social media usage. They might implement workshops, awareness
campaigns, or structured activities that help students develop strong social skills, which are
essential for their academic and personal growth.

4. For Future Researchers: This study lays the groundwork for future research on the relationship
between digital behaviors and social skills among adolescents. It provides a valuable reference for
examining the topic in other age groups or settings, potentially expanding the understanding of how
digital interactions shape social development across various contexts.
Scope and Limitation
This study investigates the impact of social media usage duration to the social skills of the grade 7
students of Philippine School Doha. The scope includes:
1. Participants: The study will focus on Grade 7 students enrolled at Philippine School Doha. This
group will provide insights into how social media use impacts young adolescents in a specific
educational setting.
2. Location: The study will be conducted within the context of Philippine School Doha. This specific
setting allows the research to focus on students in a community that shares common cultural,
social, and educational backgrounds.
3. Social Media Platforms: The study will primarily focus on popular social media platforms used by
the students, such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook, as these are commonly used
by adolescents.
4. Research Methodology: Data will be gathered through surveys and social skills assessments, to
gather both quantitative and qualitative insights.
This research has several limitations, which are:
1. Self-Reported Data: The study may rely on students to report their social media usage, which
could lead to inaccuracies. Students might overestimate or underestimate their screen time,
especially if they feel pressured to give “acceptable” answers.
2. Sample Size and Representativeness: Since the study focuses solely on Grade 7 students from
one school (Philippine School Doha), the findings may not represent the broader population of all
seventh graders in the country. Cultural and school-specific factors might influence the results,
limiting generalizability.
3. Uncontrolled External Influences: Social skills are affected by many factors outside social
media, such as family dynamics, personality, peer influence, and extracurricular activities. Without
controlling these variables, it may be hard to say that social media use alone impacts social skills.
4. Rapid Changes in Social Media Platforms: Social media platforms and trends change quickly,
so findings about one platform may not apply to others that students will use in the future. This
makes it hard to capture long-lasting conclusions about social media’s effect on social skills.
5. Limited Observation of Social Skills: Since the study is likely to rely on questionnaires or self-
assessments, observing actual social interactions might not be possible. This can limit the depth of
understanding of social skills since students may not accurately assess their social abilities.