Measuring the Effect of Social Media Usability Addiction on EFL Students’ writing Skills Case Study: Third- Year English Students – Ibn Khaldoun University, Tiaret.

Abstract

The widespread use of social media has become integrated into education. Current research explores how social media addiction affects EFL students' academic writing, pedagogical behavior, and psychological well-being. This study was conducted at Ibn Khaldoun University using a mixed methodology approach, gathering both quantitative and qualitative data through structured classroom observations, semi-structured interviews with psychologists, and an online questionnaire distributed to 91 third-year students. The findings reveal that students incorporate their online language into formal writing for various reasons and that social media addiction significantly impacts their pedagogical behavior and psychological well-being. Recommendations are provided to promote the appropriate use of social media to enhance students' academic writing skills.