The Role of Artificial Intelligence and Excessive Social Media Use in Increasing Depression and Anxiety Among Young Adults

Teenagers in particular have embraced AI technologies that are now everywhere on social media. These technologies have changed the way they talk to each other, get information, and express themselves. Although platforms of this kind facilitate connections and identity exploration, their algorithms have lately been associated with mental health issues. This research aims to examine the roles of AI and the prevalent use of social networking sites concerning depression and anxiety among young individuals. The study is quantitative and employs validated instruments such as the Social Media Addicted Scale (SMAS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7). We used SPSS to conduct statistical analyses such as correlation, regression, and mediation analysis on the data. The results indicate a substantial relationship between social media addiction and increased levels of despair and anxiety. Regression analyses demonstrate that AI-driven engagement characteristics are important predictors of psychological discomfort, whereas mediation studies suggest that fear of missing out (FOMO) and social comparisons partly moderate the association between social media use and mental health. These results suggest that the notion of AI functions not just as a tool for facilitation but also as a mechanism that reinforces addictive behaviors in young people. Meanwhile, there are acknowledged two functions of AI: the one that leads to suffering and the one that will be applied to good interventions. When designed in an ethical manner, AI chatbots, predictive analytics, and early-warning will be able to offer cheap, mass mental health care. In the article, it is claimed that strategies should be implemented at various levels to minimize the mental health risks an AI-driven social media would have. Ethical AI practices and regulatory frameworks, mental health education, and digital literacy programs are all that would allow balancing innovation and user well being. Unless something is done, the issue of excessive use of social media by young adults and the subsequent development of an increasingly larger mental illness will continue to increase.