Digital engagement and psychosocial health experiences among late adolescents and young adults in Arada sub-city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: An exploratory mixed-methods study

Background Social media has become an important environment for communication, identity formation, and social interaction among young people. However, its role in psychosocial well-being and digital safety remains under-researched in low-resource settings, including Ethiopia. Objective This study explored perceptions of social media use and described self-reported psychosocial and digital safety experiences among late adolescents and young adults in Arada Sub-City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional exploratory mixed-methods study with a strong qualitative emphasis was conducted among 30 purposively selected late adolescents and young adults aged 17–21 years. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Results Prolonged social media engagement was common, with 26.7% of participants reporting sessions lasting more than 3 hours and 90.0% reporting use without adult supervision. Online harassment was reported by 36.7% of participants. More than half, 53.3%, reported perceived behavioral or social changes related to social media use, including online-initiated romantic relationships. Qualitative narratives described both perceived benefits, such as communication and learning, and risks, including excessive use, exposure to inappropriate content, harassment, and distressing online interactions. Conclusion Among late adolescents and young adults in this exploratory urban Ethiopian sample, social media was perceived as both beneficial and potentially harmful. Findings highlight the need for context-sensitive digital literacy, online safety education, and youth-centered psychosocial support strategies.