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This exploratory mixed methods study examines how the emerging adulthood development tasks of autonomy, intimacy, and identity are reflected in the social media (SM) uses and gratifications during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research draws its analysis from qualitative and quantitative data from an online survey of 1003 Filipino college students aged 18–29. Convenient sampling was done via online recruitment on social media sites. Qualitative findings reveal subcategories characterizing how respondents use social media to meet three developmental needs of EA: (1) autonomy, by practicing informational control and performing adulthood-related tasks; (2) intimacy , by maintaining relationships with peers and family; and (3) identity, by engaging in educational experiences and in entertainment and self-expression. Quantitative strand results suggest that sex, household income, Instagram and Tiktok use, and the number of active SM sites are significantly associated with the use of SM for at least one emerging adulthood development task ( p < 0.05).

Background: The link between problematic social media use (SMU) and mental health among youth has been established. However, there is insufficient information on how mental health is influenced by COVID-19 pandemic-related changes and positive aspects of SMU. This study aims to determine the relationship of pandemic-related changes in SMU, and two types of SMU (problematic and reflective use) with mental health among young Filipino undergraduates. Methods: A total of 1087 Filipino undergraduates aged 18 to 30 years old participated in this cross-sectional study. Data collection via online survey was conducted in August 2021. Results: Findings indicate the significant association between the perceived changes in SMU and mental health among respondents (P<0.001). In terms of type of use, results suggest that students who demonstrate lower problematic SMU (B=-0.608, P<0.001, 95% CI=-0.955 – -0.259) and higher reflective SMU (B=3.524, P<0.001, 95% CI=2.051– 4.895) had higher mental wellbeing. Moreover, poorer mental wellbeing was observed among females and LGBTQ+ respondents with poorer internet quality (P<0.05). Conclusion: Mental health among young Filipino undergraduates is influenced by pandemic-related changes and types of SMU. With the increasing necessity of social media amid the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health practitioners and advocates can increase their visibility online to promote reflective SMU as a protective factor against mental health decline.

Social media has become a viable platform for political participation in issues related to gender, especially among the youth. Evidence suggests that gender and sexual identities, digital access, and skills foster political participation in social media. This study sought to determine the predictive relationship of gender, digital profile, and social media competence with social media political participation in gender issues (SMPP-GI) among young Filipino netizens through the lenses of social identity theory and resource model of political participation. A total of 1,090 college netizens aged 18–30 years old participated in this cross-sectional study. An online survey was used to collect data. The respondents reported low to moderate levels of SMPP-GI. Females and non-cisheterosexual respondents report higher scores in certain types of SMPP-GI. Respondents using more social media sites have higher levels of latent and counter engagement SMPP-GI. Among the four domains of social media competence, content generation significantly predicted all types of SMPP-GI, while content interpretation and anticipatory reflection were significantly linked with at least one type of engagement.