Systematic review uncovers links between algorithmic curation, psychiatric misinformation, and distress, highlighting the need for critical digital literacy.
Key Points
To analyze the interconnected relationships between social media use, misinformation dissemination, and psychological well-being, while evaluating critical digital literacy frameworks as protective mechanisms.
Followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines across APA PsycInfo, PubMed, JSTOR, and Google Scholar for studies published between January 2018 and March 2026.
Screened 2,048 non-duplicate records and assessed 246 full-text articles, including 86 studies in the final qualitative synthesis with strong inter-rater reliability (Cohen's κ = 0.82).
Assessed quality using Joanna Briggs Institute, AXIS, and CASP tools, synthesizing findings through thematic analysis.
Algorithmic curation and engagement-based metrics drive the spread of misinformation while concurrently fostering anxiety, depression, and harmful social comparison.
Psychiatric misinformation regarding diagnosis, medication, and treatment efficacy is prevalent, particularly on image- and video-based platforms.
Conventional fact-checking approaches prove insufficient compared to critical digital literacy frameworks incorporating algorithmic awareness, data literacy, and emotional self-regulation.
Cite This Study
Hasham Khaleel Al Musawi (2026) studied this question.