Social Media and Adolescent Mental Health: A Comprehensive Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Health
• Digital Media Studies
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Adolescent social media use is widespread, raising concerns about mental health impacts.
• Existing research presents a complex picture of social media as both a risk and a support.
• Understanding these nuances is critical for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and critically evaluate evidence on social media's relationship with adolescent mental health.
• To examine risk pathways, protective factors, mechanisms, moderators, and interventions.
• To provide a comprehensive overview of current research findings.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a narrative review of peer-reviewed articles from 2007-2025.
• Searched databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, and PsycINFO.
• Prioritized systematic reviews, meta-analyses, longitudinal, experimental, and observational studies.

Main Results:

• Social media influences adolescent mental health via multiple pathways, with varying individual and population-level effects.
• Outcomes are shaped by psychological mechanisms, moderating factors, and specific engagement patterns.
• Social media is not inherently detrimental; its impact is context-dependent.

Conclusions:

• The impact of social media on adolescent mental health is complex and multifactorial.
• Nuanced, developmentally informed, and multilevel approaches are needed to mitigate risks and enhance benefits.
• Intervention strategies should consider individual vulnerabilities and contextual influences on social media use.