The Impact of Daily Media Consumption: A One-Week Diary Study of Undergraduate Students at Bayan College, Oman

Abstract

Media consumption profoundly influences students’ academic performance, social interactions and well-being. In Oman, excessive social media usage has been linked to mental health challenges among the youth. This study explores the media consumption patterns of undergraduate students at Bayan College, Oman. Participants were selected through the convenient sampling method. The study data comprised 53 daily media consumption records categorised under media platforms utilised, type of content, engagement duration, and the impact on student’s academic performance and overall well-being. The diary entries were analysed manually using the qualitative content analysis method. The results are presented as verbatim expressions and simple descriptive statistics. The findings indicate that digital media, mainly social media and streaming services, dominate students' media consumption, averaging five hours daily. Multitasking during media use was also daily, often decreasing focus and productivity. Educational content in long-form video formats was the most frequently consumed content alongside entertainment. Participants reported media consumption had positive and negative effects; among them, improved connectivity with peers and family, reduced sleep, increased stress, and diminished concentration in class. This study highlights the need to develop strategies to encourage balanced and mindful media usage among university students to enhance academic performance and overall well-being.