A Review of Social Media’s Impact on the Mental Health of Adolescents

Social media has become a dominant aspect of many adolescents’ lives, with 95% of teens ages 13-17 using social platforms, and over one-third reporting near-constant usage. While social media can promote social connectivity and have other apparent benefits, its overuse, especially by adolescents, has been linked to significant mental health side effects, including addiction, anxiety, depression, and body image distress. This paper explores the overall causes and consequences of the overuse of social media by gathering data from recent studies. The findings reveal that social media addiction additionally stems from the perceived obligation to maintain social connections as well as feelings of loneliness. Adolescents are extremely vulnerable to the detrimental effects of compulsively using social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, or Snapchat. Because of their developing hormones and dopamine, which can make them more vulnerable to wanting social validation, adolescents are more susceptible to social media addiction. Some of these side effects can include anxiety and cyberbullying. By addressing these concerns, society can better safeguard the mental well-being of adolescents in the future.