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The Impact Of Social Media On Mental Health A Comprehensive Academic

Leo Migdal
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the impact of social media on mental health a comprehensive academic

Received 2025 Feb 9; Revised 2025 Apr 14; Accepted 2025 Apr 17; Collection date 2025 May. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Background: The impact of social media on adolescent mental health has become a critical area of research as social media usage has surged among youth. Despite extensive research, findings on this relationship remain inconsistent, with various studies reporting both negative and positive effects. This scoping review aims to clarify the multifaceted nature of this relationship by analyzing the recent literature.

Objective: This review aims to analyze the current evidence regarding the effects of social media use on adolescent mental health, identify consistent patterns and discrepancies in the findings, identify gaps in our knowledge, and... Methods: A scoping review was conducted following Arksey and O’Malley’s five-stage approach. Searches were performed in PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus for articles published between July 2020 and July 2024. Inclusion criteria were systematic reviews, umbrella reviews, narrative reviews, and meta-analyses written in English focusing on youth/adolescents’ mental health and social media. The search strategy identified 1005 articles, of which 43 relevant articles survived the reviewer selection process, from which data were extracted and analyzed to inform this review. Results: The majority of studies linked social media use to adverse mental health outcomes, particularly depression and anxiety.

However, the relationship was complex, with evidence suggesting that problematic use and passive consumption of social media were most strongly associated with adverse effects. In contrast, some studies highlighted positive aspects, including enhanced social support and reduced isolation. The mental health impact of social media use, specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic, was mixed, with the full range of neutral, negative, and positive effects reported. Conclusions: The nature of social media’s impact on adolescent mental health is highly individualistic and influenced by moderating factors. This review supports the notion that social media’s effects on adolescent mental health can be context specific and may be shaped by patterns of usage. A focus on longitudinal studies in future research will be useful for us to understand long-term effects and develop targeted interventions in this context.

Enhancing digital literacy and creating supportive online environments are essential to maximizing the benefits of social media while mitigating its risks. Keywords: youth, adolescent, mental health, social media, review Since the inception of social media, the relationship between social media and mental health remains a heavy area of contention, and social media usage and mental illness have both become increasingly prominent amongst youth... Research demonstrates that more than 90% of adolescents possess at least one social media account, and this percentage shows no indication of declining (Kucharczuk et al., 2022). A systematic review and content analysis reported that in 2022, TikTok engagement among youth and adolescents increased the most globally among other existing social media platforms (McCashin & Murphy, 2023). Other popular social media platforms adolescents frequently engage with include Instagram and YouTube (Bozzola et al., 2022).

The nature of social media applications renders them particularly enticing for adolescents at this vulnerable stage of development, as the socio-affective circuitry of the brain is rapidly developing. This may increase sensitivity to social information, the desire for social rewards, and anxiety about peer appraisal (Somerville, 2013). A not-for-profit organization, IEEE is the world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.© Copyright 2025 IEEE - All rights reserved. Use of this web site signifies your agreement to the terms and conditions.

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Received 2025 Feb 9; Revised 2025 Apr 14; Accepted 2025

Received 2025 Feb 9; Revised 2025 Apr 14; Accepted 2025 Apr 17; Collection date 2025 May. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Background: The impact of social media on adolescent mental health has become a critical area...

Objective: This Review Aims To Analyze The Current Evidence Regarding

Objective: This review aims to analyze the current evidence regarding the effects of social media use on adolescent mental health, identify consistent patterns and discrepancies in the findings, identify gaps in our knowledge, and... Methods: A scoping review was conducted following Arksey and O’Malley’s five-stage approach. Searches were performed in PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus fo...

However, The Relationship Was Complex, With Evidence Suggesting That Problematic

However, the relationship was complex, with evidence suggesting that problematic use and passive consumption of social media were most strongly associated with adverse effects. In contrast, some studies highlighted positive aspects, including enhanced social support and reduced isolation. The mental health impact of social media use, specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic, was mixed, with the f...

Enhancing Digital Literacy And Creating Supportive Online Environments Are Essential

Enhancing digital literacy and creating supportive online environments are essential to maximizing the benefits of social media while mitigating its risks. Keywords: youth, adolescent, mental health, social media, review Since the inception of social media, the relationship between social media and mental health remains a heavy area of contention, and social media usage and mental illness have bot...

The Nature Of Social Media Applications Renders Them Particularly Enticing

The nature of social media applications renders them particularly enticing for adolescents at this vulnerable stage of development, as the socio-affective circuitry of the brain is rapidly developing. This may increase sensitivity to social information, the desire for social rewards, and anxiety about peer appraisal (Somerville, 2013). A not-for-profit organization, IEEE is the world's largest tec...