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This essay examines the ways in which social media use affects subjective well-being among younger individuals, with particular emphasis on the culture of passive scrolling and its implications for feelings of social connectedness. Although existing literature addresses the psychological consequences of social media engagement, most research emphasises overall usage patterns rather than specific behaviours such as non-interactive browsing. This paper seeks to address that gap by exploring how varying scrolling practices influence perceived belonging and general wellbeing in youth populations. A quantitative approach was adopted, using an online self-administered questionnaire targeted specifically at younger respondents. Measures related to the frequency and nature of socialmedia engagement, perceived social support, and personal well-being were assessed through Likert-scale items. The dataset was processed using SPSS software, and statistical correlation, regression, and mediation analyses were applied to identify both direct and indirect associations between media use patterns and well-being indicators. Findings show that habitual passive scrolling correlates with diminished feelings of belonging, which in turn correspond with lower reported well-being. The study highlights the importance of encouraging more active and engaging forms of online interaction to support healthier social outcomes among youth. It concludes that meaningful social media engagement can contribute positively to subjective well-being by fostering online social capital, emotional stability, self-worth, and stronger senses of affiliation. Conversely, passive browsing and social comparison practices may lead to negative mental health outcomes, including heightened loneliness, depressive symptoms, and anxiety.

Keywords: Social Media, Youth, Behavioural Pattern, Psychology, Scrolling

Introduction

Importance of the Study

In contemporary society, where digital technologies are increasingly embedded in daily life, the use of social networking platforms has become routine, particularly among university students. Through these platforms, students are able to collaborate, exchange experiences, and maintain social contact with peers. Consequently, the influence of social media on their overall well-being, especially in relation to subjective well-being and the formation of social capital, has become an issue of notable relevance (Venugeetha et al, 2022). The significance of this research lies in its broader perspective on how young individuals engage with social media and the potential implications of such engagement. While psychological outcomes of social media use have been widely examined, much of the existing literature concentrates on general usage patterns rather than on the impacts of specific...

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