This study aimed to look into the correlation between the use of Instagram and TikTok and mental clutter among students of Al Ain University. The descriptive-correlational design was used, and the data were gathered by questionnaire from 70 students. The results indicated that students used Instagram and TikTok moderately and that they perceived moderate influence on their concentration, academic focus and mental clarity. The research calls for university policies on digital wellness, awareness workshops, limiting the use of phones during studies and student support programs to mitigate the negative impact of overuse of social media on academic and psychological performance. The data were collected using a questionnaire consisting of two sections: the first deals with personal variables, and the second contains 15 items distributed over three main axes. The results showed that the degree of students’ use of social media programs was average, as students used these applications on a daily basis but moderately. The effect of excessive use of social media software on distraction was moderate, as students found it difficult to focus on their assignments due to excessive use of these applications. Regarding the suggestions to minimize negative impacts, students pointed out the importance of setting certain times to stay away from these applications while studying. The study concluded that students should be aware of the negative effects of excessive use of social media programs and provide strategies to reduce these effects. Quantitatively, the overall Instagram and TikTok use score was M = 2.21 (SD = 0.897), the perceived mental-clutter score was M = 2.28 (SD = 0.891), and the strategy score was M = 2.29 (SD = 0.831); the full questionnaire showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.85). One-sample tests against the three-point scale midpoint of 2.00 showed that perceived mental clutter, t(69) = 2.63, p = 0.011, and support for self-regulation strategies, t(69) = 2.92, p = 0.005, were significantly above the midpoint, whereas the social-media-use mean was marginal, t(69) = 1.96, p = 0.054.

This study develops and tests a human-centric cybersecurity framework for educational Metaverse adoption-related intentions in Jordanian universities. It examines the relationships between privacy protection, compliance and governance, cybersecurity education and awareness, perceived security, digital literacy, and adoption-related intentions. Data were collected from 678 university stakeholders and analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling. The results show that privacy protection and cybersecurity education and awareness are significantly and positively associated with both perceived security and digital literacy, whereas compliance and governance is not significantly associated with either mechanism. Perceived security and digital literacy both significantly predict educational Metaverse adoption-related intentions, with perceived security emerging as the stronger predictor. Mediation analysis further shows significant indirect associations between privacy protection and cybersecurity education and awareness and adoption-related intentions through both mediators, whereas the indirect relationships involving compliance and governance are nonsignificant. The study contributes by distinguishing institutional cybersecurity practices and explaining how they are associated with adoption-related intentions through psychological assurance and user capability. The findings highlight the importance of visible privacy safeguards, practical cybersecurity education, and accessible governance in supporting secure and responsible immersive learning in higher education.

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the use of smartphones on the students’ environmental awareness and the adoption of environmental sustainability practices at the University of Al Ain. A descriptive analytical approach was used and a questionnaire was employed to gather data from a voluntary non-probability sample of 90 students from different academic programs at the university. The research focuses on five main areas: students’ environmental sustainability awareness, perceived positive uses of smartphones, perceived negative environmental consequences of smartphone use, the association between smartphone use and sustainable practices, and suggestions for improving smartphone-supported environmental sustainability. The results showed that students were at a medium level of environmental awareness, both in theory and practice, as they had a good understanding in theory but were not actively involved in environmental activities. In terms of positive effects, students demonstrated their ability to use smartphones as tools to raise awareness and promote sustainable practices, including using less paper and taking part in digital environmental efforts. But the problems were that there was more e-waste because phones were being replaced so often and energy consumption was unnecessary. The study revealed a moderate positive correlation between the use of smartphones and the adoption of sustainable practices, indicating the role of smartphones in environmental activities. The study recommends some solutions, including creating an environmental awareness app, holding digital competitions, etc. It suggests raising awareness among students regarding recycling and electronic waste and promoting the use of smartphones in a sustainable manner for a positive impact on the environment.