Social media use patterns and emotional dependency among civil servants in Uganda: a case study of the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA).

Abstract

The study examined how social media use patterns influence emotional dependency among civil servants in Uganda; A case of National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA). The study was guided by the following objectives: (i) To examine the relationship between the number of social media accounts and emotional dependency in Uganda, (ii) To analyze the frequency and duration of social media use among civil servants at NIRA, (iii) To assess investigate the influence of platform preference on the emotional well-being of civil servants. The research design used was cross a case study research design. A sample of 134 respondents from NIRA was used. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The questionnaire and interview guide were the main instruments of data collection. According to the study findings, results indicated that the majority (55.4%) agreed that multiple accounts increase daily digital anxiety levels. This implies that managing multiple digital profiles creates an operational overload for users, where incoming alerts, content maintenance, and continuous platform switching elevate daily stress. On the second objective, results indicated that the majority of the respondents (40.2%) generally agreed (29.3% agreed and 10.9% strongly agreed) that frequent daily logins disrupt essential administrative duties. This indicates that repeated digital checks interrupt workflow continuity and operational focus within public administrative offices and on the third objective, results revealed that the majority of the respondents (56.5%) generally agreed that visual platforms trigger intense negative self comparison. However, 35.9% of the total respondents disagreed and 7.6% were not sure. Based on the findings of the study the study concluded that the specific architecture and nature of chosen digital spaces shape distinct psychological and emotional outcomes for civil servants. Visually driven platforms induce negative self-comparison by leading staff to measure their real lives against curated digital personas, while dense, text-heavy updates exacerbate daily workplace political anxiety by exposing employees to polarizing opinions and administrative rumors. The study recommended that the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) management, in collaboration with public service leadership, should establish clear institutional guidelines governing personal device and social media usage during work hours. These policies should promote structured digital disengagement, define expectations around response times on workplace messaging platforms, and encourage clear boundaries between professional responsibilities and personal screen time.