Exploring the impact of social media on adolescent and young adult mental health

Social media platforms offer potential benefits for mental well-being by fostering social connections, enabling self-expression, and democratizing access to mental health resources. Yet, concerns have been raised regarding their association with mental health problems, particularly among young people. This narrative review examines findings from longitudinal studies, cross-sectional surveys, and qualitative research, with a focus on adolescents and young adults. Evidence suggests that social media can enhance social support and community building, particularly for individuals experiencing offline isolation. It also serves as a platform for sharing personal experiences, helping to destigmatize mental illness and promote societal understanding. Conversely, key themes related to problematic social media use identified in the literature included a strong link to cyberbullying and symptoms of depression and anxiety. The pervasive culture of social comparison and exposure to unrealistic portrayals of others’ lives has been identified as potential triggers for low self-esteem, particularly among adolescents and young adults. Excessive social media use has been shown to be associated with risky behaviors, including disrupted sleep and unhealthy alcohol consumption. However, the link between problematic social media use and mental health problems may reflect reciprocal processes, such as time-lagged or bidirectional effects. While existing research employs diverse methodological approaches, there remains a critical need for longitudinal studies to assess the long-term effects of social media use. Intervention-based studies examining strategies to promote healthier usage patterns are also scarce. Future studies should aim to address these gaps to improve our understanding and mitigate the impact of social media on adolescent and young people’s mental health.