The Effects of Social Media Use on Mental Health in Adolescents
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.sidebar##
Published
May 29, 2025
Abstract
Social media have become an indispensable part of adolescents’ lives because of their vital roles in social interaction and recreation, and their effects on teenagers’ mental well-being have garnered wide attention in academia. This study seeks to investigate the positive and negative effects of social media on adolescent mental health based on the existing literature. Their positive effects include augmenting social support for teenagers’ mental well-being and facilitating their access to mental health knowledge. On the other hand, social media use may impair adolescents’ mental health by deteriorating their psychological states, subjecting them to online bullying, and increasing their exposure to unhealthy content. Also discussed are personal and environmental factors influencing these effects. The article concludes with suggestions on how to mitigate the unfavorable effects of social media on adolescent mental health.
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.details##
Keywords
Social Media Use, Mental Health, Adolescent
Supporting Agencies
No funding sources declared.
References
Abi-Jaoude, E., Naylor, K. T., & Pignatiello, A. (2020). Smartphones, social media use and youth mental health. Cmaj, 192(6), E136-E141. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.190434
Al-Gasem, A. A. (2019). Impact of social media on the mental health of teenagers in the US. Journal of University Studies for Inclusive Research, 1, 200-217.
Biernesser, C., Sewall, C. J., Brent, D., Bear, T., Mair, C., & Trauth, J. (2020). Social media use and deliberate self-harm among youth: a systematized narrative review. Children and Youth Services Review, 116. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105054
Carr, C. T., & Hayes, R. A. (2015). Social media: Defining, developing, and divining. Atlantic Journal of Communication, 23(1), 46-65. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15456870.2015.972282
Chai, H., Niu, G., Chu, X., Wei, Q., Song, Y., & Sun, X. (2018). Fear of missing out: What did I miss out again? Advances in Psychological Science, 26(03), 527-537. Available at: https://link.cnki.net/urlid/11.4766.R.20180201.1505.030
Chen, Y. & Xie, B. (2023). A review of recent studies on the impact of social media use on mental health in adolescents. Chinese Journal of School Health, 44(12), 1916-1920. DOI: https://doi.org/10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2023.12.033.
Cheng, P. (2021). The relationship between loneliness and fear of missing out in adolescents: The mediating effect of social media use intensity. Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology, 29(01), 187-190. DOI: https://doi.org/10.16128/j.cnki.1005-3611.2021.01.038.
Dai, B., Yang, Z., & Zhang, P. (2022). A review of recent studies on the impact of passive social media use on adolescent psychological states. Chinese Journal of School Health, 43(05), 690-695. DOI: https://doi.org/10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2022.05.012.
Deep, G. (2015). Social media and the mental health of teenagers: An insight. Indian Journal of Health & Wellbeing, 6(7), 741-743.
Deepa, M., & Priya, V. K. (2020). Impact of social media on mental health of students. International Journal of Scientific &
Technology Research, 9(03), 3796-3800. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340779328
Elmquist, D. L., & McLaughlin, C. L. (2018). Social media use among adolescents coping with mental health. Contemporary School Psychology, 22, 503-511. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40688-017-0167-5
Ferguson, C. J., Kaye, L. K., Branley-Bell, D., Markey, P., Ivory, J. D., Klisanin, D., & Wilson, J. (2022). Like this meta-analysis: Screen media and mental health. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 53(2), 205. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000426
Frison, E., & Eggermont, S. (2016). Exploring the relationships between different types of Facebook use, perceived online social support, and adolescents’ depressed mood. Social Science Computer Review, 34(2), 153-171. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0894439314567449.
Gupta, C., Jogdand, S., Kumar, M., GUPTA, C., & Jogdand, S. D. (2022). Reviewing the impact of social media on the mental health of adolescents and young adults. Cureus, 14(10). DOI: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.30143
Hamilton, J. L., Nesi, J., & Choukas-Bradley, S. (2021). Re-examining adolescent social media use and socioemotional well-being through the lens of the COVID-19 pandemic: A theoretical review and directions for future research. Perspectives on Psychological Science: A Journal of the Association for Psychological Science, 17(3), 662. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/17456916211014189
Hu, Y. T., & Liu, Q. Q. (2020). Passive social networking site use and adolescent materialism: Upward social comparison as a mediator. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 48(1), 1-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.8833
Ivie, E. J., Pettitt, A., Moses, L. J., & Allen, N. B. (2020). A meta-analysis of the association between adolescent social media use and depressive symptoms. Journal of Affective Disorders, 275, 165-174. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.06.014
Kaur, R., & Bashir, H. (2015). Impact of social media on mental health of adolescents. International Journal of Education, 5, 22-29.
Khalaf, A. M., Alubied, A. A., Khalaf, A. M., & Rifaey, A. A. (2023). The impact of social media on the mental health of adolescents and young adults: A systematic review. Cureus, 15(8): e42990. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.42990
Marciano, L., Ostroumova, M., Schulz, P. J., & Camerini, A. L. (2022). Digital media use and adolescents' mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Public Health, 9, 793868. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.793868
Martingano, A. J., Konrath, S., Zarins, S., & Okaomee, A. A. (2022). Empathy, narcissism, alexithymia, and social media use. Psychology of Popular Media, 11(4), 413. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000419.supp
Ni, X. & Shao, X. (2019). The impact of social media use on subjective well-being in adolescents: Sequential mediating effects on the relation between self-esteem and self-identity. Journal of Lanzhou University (Social Sciences Edition), 47(01), 122-133. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13885/j.issn.1000-2804.2019.01.014.
Orben, A. (2020). Teenagers, screens and social media: a narrative review of reviews and key studies. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 55(4), 407-414. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-019-01825-4
O’Reilly, M. (2020). Social media and adolescent mental health: the good, the bad and the ugly. Journal of Mental Health, 29(2), 200-206. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2020.1714007
O’Reilly, M., Dogra, N., Hughes, J., Reilly, P., George, R., & Whiteman, N. (2019). Potential of social media in promoting mental health in adolescents. Health promotion international, 34(5), 981-991. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/day056
O’Reilly, M., Dogra, N., Whiteman, N., Hughes, J., Eruyar, S., & Reilly, P. (2018). Is social media bad for mental health and wellbeing? Exploring the perspectives of adolescents. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 23(4), 601-613. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104518775154
Popat, A., & Tarrant, C. (2023). Exploring adolescents’ perspectives on social media and mental health and well-being–A qualitative literature review. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 28(1), 323-337. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/13591045221092884
Prabhakararao, S., & Hladíková, V. (2016). Overuse of social media affects the mental health of adolescents and early youth. The International Journal of Indian Psychology, 3(8), 13-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25215/0302
Qiu, W., Lin, G., Ye, Y., & Chen, Z. (2017). The impact of social media use on anxiety in college students: The sequential mediating effect of upward social comparison and psychological capital. Chinese Journal of Special Education, 2017(08), 88-92+73. Available at: https://kns.cnki.net/kcms2/article/abstract?v=N5Mfx_KcSpKrdtd-FPFo7SuKPSX0An3y5rp168dwf1erQ_EZy_lMngttb7ajUXYHjbYziNv8-N_qdLvrQr-j9wEP1R2mX2yNdK0AyHOrFqIWiW_6-VuJYeYwPP1_vre6CbVzLJgavlZrqeJmEr1nd9R4WWQs2VTxFGaYZUoCdlwzqSgAZF87KA==&uniplatform=NZKPT&language=CHS
Sadagheyani, H. E., & Tatari, F. (2021). Investigating the role of social media on mental health. Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 25(1), 41-51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-06-2020-0039
Samji, H., Wu, J., Ladak, A., Vossen, C., Stewart, E., Dove, N., ... & Snell, G. (2022). Mental health impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic on children and youth–a systematic review. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 27(2), 173-189. https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12501
Schønning, V., Hjetland, G. J., Aarø, L. E., & Skogen, J. C. (2020). Social media use and mental health and well-being among adolescents–a scoping review. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 1949. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01949
Senekal, J. S., Ruth Groenewald, G., Wolfaardt, L., Jansen, C., & Williams, K. (2023). Social media and adolescent psychosocial development: a systematic review. South African Journal of Psychology, 53(2), 157-171. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00812463221119302
Sun, X., Chai, H., Niu, G., Cui, X., Lian, S., & Tian, Y. (2017). The impact of online self-presentation on loneliness in adolescents: A moderated mediation model. Psychological Development and Education, 33(04), 477-486. DOI: https://doi.org/10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2017.04.12.
Tibber, M. S., & Silver, E. (2022). A trans-diagnostic cognitive behavioural conceptualisation of the positive and negative roles of social media use in adolescents’ mental health and wellbeing. The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 15, e7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1754470X22000034
Valkenburg, P. M., Meier, A., & Beyens, I. (2022). Social media use and its impact on adolescent mental health: An umbrella review of the evidence. Current Opinion in Psychology, 44, 58-68. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.08.017
Vidal, C., Lhaksampa, T., Miller, L., & Platt, R. (2020). Social media use and depression in adolescents: a scoping review. International Review of Psychiatry, 32(3), 235-253. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2020.1720623
Wu, X. & Mao, L. (2020). A meta-analysis of the relationship between social media use and depression. Journal of Shantou University (Humanities and Social Sciences Edition), 36(11), 47-57+95. Available at: https://kns.cnki.net/kcms2/article/abstract?v=N5Mfx_KcSpJX–q-Xp9O9g5zNu1aFcyh5cHTY_OSWKNyxsVKfHDcoru9KDvhj0gCMjCqoNL1BDHFf8Ltj2CPaA9ZHZ8Gj2SO21Oa5acEv45sEM1eZscRF_Z6wV4_BSniUqPhKvWkKjOt7UNlyRem-t9xTOVpjWMgopCIVMkZaz8RNsWC3wrhVZw==&uniplatform=NZKPT&language=CHS
Yin, X. Q., de Vries, D. A., Gentile, D. A., & Wang, J. L. (2019). Cultural background and measurement of usage moderate the association between social networking sites (SNSs) usage and mental health: A meta-analysis. Social Science Computer Review, 37(5), 631-648. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/08944393187849
Zhu, L., Yan, T., & Zhang, S. (2021). The relationship between passive social networking site use and depression among college students: A cross-lagged analysis. Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology, 29(01), 64-67. DOI: https://doi.org/10.16128/j.cnki.1005-3611.2021.01.013.
Al-Gasem, A. A. (2019). Impact of social media on the mental health of teenagers in the US. Journal of University Studies for Inclusive Research, 1, 200-217.
Biernesser, C., Sewall, C. J., Brent, D., Bear, T., Mair, C., & Trauth, J. (2020). Social media use and deliberate self-harm among youth: a systematized narrative review. Children and Youth Services Review, 116. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105054
Carr, C. T., & Hayes, R. A. (2015). Social media: Defining, developing, and divining. Atlantic Journal of Communication, 23(1), 46-65. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15456870.2015.972282
Chai, H., Niu, G., Chu, X., Wei, Q., Song, Y., & Sun, X. (2018). Fear of missing out: What did I miss out again? Advances in Psychological Science, 26(03), 527-537. Available at: https://link.cnki.net/urlid/11.4766.R.20180201.1505.030
Chen, Y. & Xie, B. (2023). A review of recent studies on the impact of social media use on mental health in adolescents. Chinese Journal of School Health, 44(12), 1916-1920. DOI: https://doi.org/10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2023.12.033.
Cheng, P. (2021). The relationship between loneliness and fear of missing out in adolescents: The mediating effect of social media use intensity. Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology, 29(01), 187-190. DOI: https://doi.org/10.16128/j.cnki.1005-3611.2021.01.038.
Dai, B., Yang, Z., & Zhang, P. (2022). A review of recent studies on the impact of passive social media use on adolescent psychological states. Chinese Journal of School Health, 43(05), 690-695. DOI: https://doi.org/10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2022.05.012.
Deep, G. (2015). Social media and the mental health of teenagers: An insight. Indian Journal of Health & Wellbeing, 6(7), 741-743.
Deepa, M., & Priya, V. K. (2020). Impact of social media on mental health of students. International Journal of Scientific &
Technology Research, 9(03), 3796-3800. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340779328
Elmquist, D. L., & McLaughlin, C. L. (2018). Social media use among adolescents coping with mental health. Contemporary School Psychology, 22, 503-511. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40688-017-0167-5
Ferguson, C. J., Kaye, L. K., Branley-Bell, D., Markey, P., Ivory, J. D., Klisanin, D., & Wilson, J. (2022). Like this meta-analysis: Screen media and mental health. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 53(2), 205. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000426
Frison, E., & Eggermont, S. (2016). Exploring the relationships between different types of Facebook use, perceived online social support, and adolescents’ depressed mood. Social Science Computer Review, 34(2), 153-171. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0894439314567449.
Gupta, C., Jogdand, S., Kumar, M., GUPTA, C., & Jogdand, S. D. (2022). Reviewing the impact of social media on the mental health of adolescents and young adults. Cureus, 14(10). DOI: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.30143
Hamilton, J. L., Nesi, J., & Choukas-Bradley, S. (2021). Re-examining adolescent social media use and socioemotional well-being through the lens of the COVID-19 pandemic: A theoretical review and directions for future research. Perspectives on Psychological Science: A Journal of the Association for Psychological Science, 17(3), 662. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/17456916211014189
Hu, Y. T., & Liu, Q. Q. (2020). Passive social networking site use and adolescent materialism: Upward social comparison as a mediator. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 48(1), 1-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.8833
Ivie, E. J., Pettitt, A., Moses, L. J., & Allen, N. B. (2020). A meta-analysis of the association between adolescent social media use and depressive symptoms. Journal of Affective Disorders, 275, 165-174. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.06.014
Kaur, R., & Bashir, H. (2015). Impact of social media on mental health of adolescents. International Journal of Education, 5, 22-29.
Khalaf, A. M., Alubied, A. A., Khalaf, A. M., & Rifaey, A. A. (2023). The impact of social media on the mental health of adolescents and young adults: A systematic review. Cureus, 15(8): e42990. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.42990
Marciano, L., Ostroumova, M., Schulz, P. J., & Camerini, A. L. (2022). Digital media use and adolescents' mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Public Health, 9, 793868. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.793868
Martingano, A. J., Konrath, S., Zarins, S., & Okaomee, A. A. (2022). Empathy, narcissism, alexithymia, and social media use. Psychology of Popular Media, 11(4), 413. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000419.supp
Ni, X. & Shao, X. (2019). The impact of social media use on subjective well-being in adolescents: Sequential mediating effects on the relation between self-esteem and self-identity. Journal of Lanzhou University (Social Sciences Edition), 47(01), 122-133. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13885/j.issn.1000-2804.2019.01.014.
Orben, A. (2020). Teenagers, screens and social media: a narrative review of reviews and key studies. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 55(4), 407-414. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-019-01825-4
O’Reilly, M. (2020). Social media and adolescent mental health: the good, the bad and the ugly. Journal of Mental Health, 29(2), 200-206. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2020.1714007
O’Reilly, M., Dogra, N., Hughes, J., Reilly, P., George, R., & Whiteman, N. (2019). Potential of social media in promoting mental health in adolescents. Health promotion international, 34(5), 981-991. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/day056
O’Reilly, M., Dogra, N., Whiteman, N., Hughes, J., Eruyar, S., & Reilly, P. (2018). Is social media bad for mental health and wellbeing? Exploring the perspectives of adolescents. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 23(4), 601-613. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104518775154
Popat, A., & Tarrant, C. (2023). Exploring adolescents’ perspectives on social media and mental health and well-being–A qualitative literature review. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 28(1), 323-337. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/13591045221092884
Prabhakararao, S., & Hladíková, V. (2016). Overuse of social media affects the mental health of adolescents and early youth. The International Journal of Indian Psychology, 3(8), 13-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25215/0302
Qiu, W., Lin, G., Ye, Y., & Chen, Z. (2017). The impact of social media use on anxiety in college students: The sequential mediating effect of upward social comparison and psychological capital. Chinese Journal of Special Education, 2017(08), 88-92+73. Available at: https://kns.cnki.net/kcms2/article/abstract?v=N5Mfx_KcSpKrdtd-FPFo7SuKPSX0An3y5rp168dwf1erQ_EZy_lMngttb7ajUXYHjbYziNv8-N_qdLvrQr-j9wEP1R2mX2yNdK0AyHOrFqIWiW_6-VuJYeYwPP1_vre6CbVzLJgavlZrqeJmEr1nd9R4WWQs2VTxFGaYZUoCdlwzqSgAZF87KA==&uniplatform=NZKPT&language=CHS
Sadagheyani, H. E., & Tatari, F. (2021). Investigating the role of social media on mental health. Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 25(1), 41-51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-06-2020-0039
Samji, H., Wu, J., Ladak, A., Vossen, C., Stewart, E., Dove, N., ... & Snell, G. (2022). Mental health impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic on children and youth–a systematic review. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 27(2), 173-189. https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12501
Schønning, V., Hjetland, G. J., Aarø, L. E., & Skogen, J. C. (2020). Social media use and mental health and well-being among adolescents–a scoping review. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 1949. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01949
Senekal, J. S., Ruth Groenewald, G., Wolfaardt, L., Jansen, C., & Williams, K. (2023). Social media and adolescent psychosocial development: a systematic review. South African Journal of Psychology, 53(2), 157-171. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00812463221119302
Sun, X., Chai, H., Niu, G., Cui, X., Lian, S., & Tian, Y. (2017). The impact of online self-presentation on loneliness in adolescents: A moderated mediation model. Psychological Development and Education, 33(04), 477-486. DOI: https://doi.org/10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2017.04.12.
Tibber, M. S., & Silver, E. (2022). A trans-diagnostic cognitive behavioural conceptualisation of the positive and negative roles of social media use in adolescents’ mental health and wellbeing. The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 15, e7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1754470X22000034
Valkenburg, P. M., Meier, A., & Beyens, I. (2022). Social media use and its impact on adolescent mental health: An umbrella review of the evidence. Current Opinion in Psychology, 44, 58-68. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.08.017
Vidal, C., Lhaksampa, T., Miller, L., & Platt, R. (2020). Social media use and depression in adolescents: a scoping review. International Review of Psychiatry, 32(3), 235-253. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2020.1720623
Wu, X. & Mao, L. (2020). A meta-analysis of the relationship between social media use and depression. Journal of Shantou University (Humanities and Social Sciences Edition), 36(11), 47-57+95. Available at: https://kns.cnki.net/kcms2/article/abstract?v=N5Mfx_KcSpJX–q-Xp9O9g5zNu1aFcyh5cHTY_OSWKNyxsVKfHDcoru9KDvhj0gCMjCqoNL1BDHFf8Ltj2CPaA9ZHZ8Gj2SO21Oa5acEv45sEM1eZscRF_Z6wV4_BSniUqPhKvWkKjOt7UNlyRem-t9xTOVpjWMgopCIVMkZaz8RNsWC3wrhVZw==&uniplatform=NZKPT&language=CHS
Yin, X. Q., de Vries, D. A., Gentile, D. A., & Wang, J. L. (2019). Cultural background and measurement of usage moderate the association between social networking sites (SNSs) usage and mental health: A meta-analysis. Social Science Computer Review, 37(5), 631-648. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/08944393187849
Zhu, L., Yan, T., & Zhang, S. (2021). The relationship between passive social networking site use and depression among college students: A cross-lagged analysis. Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology, 29(01), 64-67. DOI: https://doi.org/10.16128/j.cnki.1005-3611.2021.01.013.
How to Cite
Sheng, Y. (2025). The Effects of Social Media Use on Mental Health in Adolescents. Science Insights Education Frontiers, 28(1), 4599–4612. https://doi.org/10.15354/sief.25.re512
Issue
Section
Review
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.