The Influence of Social Media Fatigue on Academic Procrastination and Psychological Well-Being among University Students: Evidence from Vietnam

Abstract

The rapid growth of social media has transformed students’ learning, communication, entertainment, and social interaction. Although social media platforms can support information exchange and peer connection, excessive exposure may also generate social media fatigue, distract students from academic tasks, increase procrastination, and reduce psychological well-being. This study investigates the influence of social media fatigue on academic procrastination and psychological well-being among Vietnamese university students. Using a mixed-methods design, data were collected through a structured questionnaire consisting of closed-ended and open-ended questions. The illustrative sample included 150 university students who actively used social media for both academic and personal purposes. Quantitative data were analyzed using frequency and percentage calculations, while qualitative responses were examined through thematic analysis. The findings indicate that most students use social media daily, mainly for communication, entertainment, academic information, news updates, and short-form video consumption. A substantial proportion of respondents reported symptoms of social media fatigue, including emotional exhaustion, information overload, distraction, comparison pressure, and difficulty controlling screen time. The results also suggest that social media fatigue is closely associated with academic procrastination, especially delayed assignment completion, reduced concentration, and postponement of study plans. At the same time, students reported mixed effects on psychological well-being: social media helped them maintain social connection but also increased anxiety, stress, sleep disruption, and negative self-comparison. The study concludes that universities should not treat social media only as a communication tool, but should develop digital well-being education, time-management support, counseling awareness, and learning environments that promote healthier technology use.