Augmented Digital Fotonovela (SMAART App) to Mitigate Health Consequences Among Adolescents Resulting from Social Media Addiction

<p>Adolescent social media (SM) usage has surged over the past decade, outpacing that of adults and exacerbating digital polarization. Due to ongoing neural development, adolescents are particularly susceptible to social media addiction (SMA) - a phenomenon that has intensified post-COVID-19 with increased digital engagement. On average, adolescents spend 8.5 hours daily on SM platforms, exposing them to heightened risks of cyberbullying, sexting, body shaming, and academic disengagement. The dopamine-driven reward mechanisms inherent in social media reinforce compulsive use, contributing to severe mental health consequences, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. Despite its growing prevalence, SMA remains an underrecognized behavioral disorder due to the absence of standardized diagnostic criteria, making assessment and intervention challenging. The lack of regulatory frameworks further exacerbates the issue, leaving adolescents vulnerable to excessive and harmful SM exposure. Given the rapid increase in adolescent SM engagement and its detrimental effects, there is an urgent need for systematic research and evidence-based intervention strategies to mitigate its impact. Addressing this issue is critical to safeguarding adolescent mental health and well-being in the digital age.This dissertation addresses the growing issue of Social Media Addiction (SMA) among adolescents, emphasizing its mental health consequences and proposing a novel intervention strategy. Using the Design Science Research (DSR) methodology, this study developed and evaluated SMAART, an augmented fotonovela mobile application designed to raise awareness and promote behavioral change in adolescents aged 13–19 years. A foundational component of this research involved constructing a taxonomy of SMA, derived through a systematic literature review (SLR). This taxonomy identified key enablers, manifestations, and health consequences of SMA, which guided the design, implementation, and evaluation of the SMAART app. The app integrates behavioral design principles and augmented reality (AR) to enhance engagement and educational outcomes. Experimental results demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in awareness regarding body image distortion, body shaming, and catfishing among adolescents using the SMAART app compared to a control group receiving email-based interventions. Statistical analyses, including paired t-tests, confirmed the app’s efficacy in increasing knowledge and awareness.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Information Systems and Technology, PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Center for Information Systems and Technology

Year dc:date.available

2025

Author dc:creator

• Santhosh, Joseph

Contributors dc:contributor

• Wallace Chipidza
• Chinazunwa Uwaoma

• Adolescent Health Consequence
• Augmented Reality Fotonovela
• Behavior Algorithm
• Design Science Research
• Social Media Addiction (SMA)
• Taxonomy

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgu_etd/991

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarship.claremont.edu:cgu_etd-2013