Mental Health Effects of Social Media Use Among Adolescents Across Educational Stages: A Meta-Analysis

Background The link between social media use and adolescent mental health is widely studied, but its variation across developmental stages remains insufficiently clarified. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the differential associations among primary, middle, and high school students. Methods We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, and CNKI up to 1 February 2026. Eligible studies reported correlation coefficients between social media use and mental health in school-aged youth. Analyses were performed using Stata 17.0 with random-effects model, subgroup stratification, heterogeneity testing, publication bias assessment, and leave-one-out sensitivity analysis. Results Twelve studies with 15 effect sizes were included. Social media use was significantly associated with worse mental health (r = 0.308, 95%CI: 0.239–0.374, p < 0.001) with high heterogeneity (I 2 = 93.85%). The association differed significantly by stage (Q = 9.72, p = 0.008): strongest in primary school students (r = 0.367), followed by high schoolers (r = 0.334), and weakest in middle schoolers (r = 0.201). No significant publication bias was detected; results were stable. Conclusions The association between social media use and mental health varies significantly across educational stages, with primary school students being the most vulnerable. Developmentally tailored prevention and intervention strategies are needed for school-aged youth.