This research aims to analyse the factors and effect of compulsive social apps usage on technostress among students in private higher education institutions in Malaysia. The determinants examined are the locus of control, materialism, need for touch, social interaction anxiety and technostress. This study is conducted on students who are the largest population using digital technologies in their everyday lives. Five hypotheses were constructed to analyse the determinants of compulsive social apps usage on technostress. A total of 285 valid questionnaires that measured factors of compulsive social apps and technostress were collected through the face-to-face method. The data was analysed using partial least squares (PLS) from students of the private higher education institutions. The mean score of compulsive usage of smartphone (M = 3.92) and that of technostress (M = 3.57) were not above the mid-point 4 in our 5-point scale, suggesting that the participants were not serious compulsive users. The results indicate the need for touch and that technostress is a significant effect of compulsive social apps usage. The findings showed that need for touch has the maximum impact on compulsive social apps usage and technostress.