Preferred Social Media Platforms among Nursing Students: Associations with Digital Usage Patterns and Sleep Duration

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the preferred social media platforms of nursing students in Islamabad and examine whether platform preference is associated with total daily social media usage time, the first social media use after waking up, last use before sleeping, and sleep duration. Using social media has become an integral part of daily life among university students, including nursing students. Frequent use of their favourite networks may affect their online behavior and sleep patterns. A structured questionnaire was used to conduct a quantitative cross-sectional survey among nursing students. Data from 202 students out of 208 participants were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and the Kruskal–Wallis H test. The most used platforms were TikTok and Instagram. Platform preference was associated with daily social media usage time. The timing of first social media use after waking and sleep duration was also associated with platform preference. However, there was no difference in the last use before sleep across social media platforms. The findings highlight the need to raise awareness among nursing students regarding the use of their preferred social media platforms. Educational institutions should inform students about how platform preferences may influence daily social media use and sleep duration.