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July 16, 2026Journal of AdolescenceOpen Access

Adolescents' Experiences of Social Media Content Types and Wellbeing: A Photo‐Elicitation Interview Study

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Authors

LWLizzy WinstoneJPJames ParsonageCMCassey Muir

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Overview

Photo-elicitation interviews explore social media content effects on wellbeing in adolescents, suggesting important implications for education and platform design.

Key Points

  • This study aims to understand how different types of social media content affect adolescents' wellbeing and development.
  • Conducted semi-structured photo-elicitation interviews with 27 adolescents aged 14-19 in the UK.
  • Participants shared screenshots from TikTok or Instagram to facilitate discussions on their experiences.
  • Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis to identify content types and their perceived impacts.
  • Identified seven content types: entertainment, consumerism, identity-related, mental health, news and activism, body image, and AI-generated content.
  • All content types were viewed as having both benefits and risks depending on algorithmic exposure and individual context.
  • Younger adolescents were perceived as particularly vulnerable, struggling to critically evaluate content or manage exposure.

Cite This Study

Winstone et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a5875aa2b46c88ba9ad1651https://doi.org/10.1002/jad.70231
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Algorithmic recommendation and adolescent mental health: a grounded theory study of social and commercial determinants2026
  2. 2Youth Experiencing the Algorithmic Flow: The Shared Understanding of Contemporary Social Media Consumption2025
  3. 3TikTok, Body Image Content, and User Wellbeing: User Engagement, Algorithmic Exposure, and Coping Strategies2025 · 1 citations
  4. 4Understanding the Impact of Social Media Algorithms on Teenagers’ Brain and Emotions: A Cross-Field Approach2025 · 1 citations
  5. 5The Impact of Social Media on Adolescents' Mental Health2025