Peers, Gratification and Threat: Social Media Usage Among Adolescents

The advancement of information and communication technology, with the advent of social media, has attracted users across all age groups. However, adolescents were among the first to adapt to and experience the digital world for educational and recreational purposes. This research investigated adolescents’ social media experiences, including peer influence in their usage and the perceived threat. In light of the uses and gratifications theory, the study employed survey methodology via a questionnaire to investigate. Adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 participated through stratified random sampling based on electoral constituency. With a 99% confidence level and a 5% margin of error, a total of 665 respondents were examined, and the response rate was 84%. Adolescents were extensively networked due to the satisfaction they gained from social media. Similarly, the role of peers was moderate, as the gratification outweighed other factors, including security threats.