Social Media and Youth Health: How Digital Platforms Shape Health Behaviors and Mental Well-Being Among Adolescents

The ubiquity of social media in adolescents’ lives represents one of the most significant challenges to public health today, exerting a complex influence on their health behaviors and mental well-being. The aim of this study is to provide a synthetic summary of the current literature on the mechanisms through which digital platforms shape adolescents’ physical and mental health, with a particular focus on risk and protective factors. The results of the review indicate a nonlinear relationship between social media use and well-being. On the one hand, excessive, problematic, or passive use of digital platforms is strongly correlated with higher levels of anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, negative body image, and eating disorders. Exposure to phenomena such as cyberbullying or algorithmically promoted harmful content increases the risk of risky behaviors, including the use of psychoactive substances. On the other hand, active media use can bring tangible benefits by facilitating the development of peer relationships, providing social support, and offering access to reliable health information—which is particularly important for youth from marginalized groups. The impact of social media on youth health is not unequivocally negative but depends on usage patterns, individual developmental predispositions, and social context. Understanding these diverse mechanisms is crucial for developing effective clinical interventions, educational programs, and legal regulations. These will help minimize existing risks while harnessing the potential of digital technologies to effectively promote health among adolescents.