The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health in Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Social media has become an integral part of young adults' daily lives, providing opportunities for communication, information sharing, and social support. However, concerns remain regarding its potential association with emotional well-being, sleep, social comparison, and online harassment. The present study examined social media use and self-reported mental health-related experiences among young adults aged 18-25 years. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was employed. Data were collected through an online questionnaire, and 99 consenting responses were included after excluding three responses from participants who did not consent. Descriptive statistics and Spearman's rank-order correlation were used. Instagram was the most frequently reported platform (74.7%), and 64.6% reported using social media for at least three hours daily. Usage duration was positively associated with checking social media immediately after waking (ρ = .368, p < .001) and spending more time on social media than intended (ρ = .358, p< .001); both associations remained significant after Bonferroni correction. No statistically significant associations were observed between usage duration and anxiety after use, negative mood, loneliness, sleep disturbance, or social comparison. Although 19.2% reported experiencing online harassment directly or sometimes, participants also reported benefits relating to social connection and access to information. The findings indicate a multifaceted relationship and should not be interpreted causally because of the cross-sectional design and self-report measures.