The African Journal of Information Systems The African

The Impact of Social Media Use on the Academic Performance of University Students: A PRISMA 2020 Systematic Review

Social media has become a regular part of university life everywhere, including in countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and even in the European Countries. There are concerns about it cutting into study time and lowering grades, which has prompted a lot of research. However, most previous reviews have not used a formal framework, and very few have focused specifically on developing countries. This review applies the PRISMA 2020 framework to examine four peer reviewed studies from those four countries. Each of these studies explores the relationship between social media use and students’ GPA or CGPA. Using PRISMA, I followed each step: identifying studies, screening them, checking if they met criteria, and including them. I extracted details such as sample size, student demographics, which aspects of social media use were considered, how academic performance was measured, and the statistical findings. I also checked study quality with a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and assessed the risk of bias in selection, information, and confounding. All four studies (total N = 573) reported the same result: more time spent on social media is linked to poorer academic performance. The effect was not small, either. Pearson correlations ranged from r = −0.239 in Nigeria to a negative relationship equal to R² = 0.374 in Ghana. Regression coefficients were between β = −0.317 and β = −0.303. In Cameroon, six predictors together explained just over half the variation in GPA (R² = .505; F = 16.142, p < .001). Facebook was the main platform used across all studies. Factors like whether students used social media at suitable times, addiction, the type of use, and feelings of social connection all played a part. In summary, the message is clear: heavier social media use is associated with lower grades among university students in these developing countries, but the specifics matter how, when, and why students use social media influences the outcome. Universities should take this seriously by teaching digital literacy and self-regulation, and by creating their own social media platforms to encourage more productive student engagement.

The impact of social media on adolescent mental health: a systematic review

Social media (SM) use among adolescents has raised significant concerns about mental health, but evidence synthesis needs updating due to the rapid evolution of platforms. This systematic review thoroughly compiled evidence on how SM use affects adolescent mental health. This study searched SCOPUS, PubMed, and Web of Science (2015-2025) for peer-reviewed English studies involving adolescents aged 10-19 years using observational, longitudinal, experimental, or mixed-methods approaches. Nineteen studies with a total of 259,859 adolescents were analyzed. Seventeen studies found significant negative links between SM use and outcomes like depression, anxiety, loneliness, body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, and self-harm. Two studies found no significant link. Important moderators included age, gender, time spent, and specific activities such as passive browsing and photo editing. Quality assessments showed 15 studies with low bias risk and 4 with moderate risk. Nearly 90% of the included studies confirmed significant adverse effects of SM use on adolescent mental health. Factors like age, gender, duration, and activity type play key roles. There is an urgent need for awareness efforts and policy actions, including parental oversight and age restrictions. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies with standardized assessment tools.

A review on social media and mental health

Social media is a crucial information and communication tool that facilitates worldwide collaboration through ongoing connectedness, gradual knowledge exchange, and a variety of self-expression options. This review mainly aims to examine social media and the impacts that are psychologically related to people’s well-being. Also, it aims to find the problems associated with social media use in daily life, including elevated anxiety, depression, stress, loneliness, and decreased general well-being. Also, it aims to find the detrimental effects that are attributed to a variety of processes, including addiction-like behaviors like obsessive checking, cyberbullying and online harassment, fear of missing out (FOMO), and frequent upward social comparison that undermines body image and self-esteem. This review aids in exploring the findings from psychology, psychiatry, communication studies, and human-computer interaction. Also, it helps identify social media-related challenges and illustrates the roles of individual differences, usage patterns, and cultural context in shaping psychological outcomes. Accordingly the analysis of the existing literature has used of theoretical models, like gratification theory as well as uses theory and also has used the theory of social comparison. Also uses the evidence related to the patterns that are related to the usage, as well as the differences among the individuals. Additionally, many findings can be described negatively, like using screens late at night can worsen sleep disturbances and lead to emotional overstimulation, which can be detrimental to mental health. This study conveys knowledge and information that may be understood concerning social media’s dual impact on mental health in both positive and negative ways. Also, this study helps to include the future directions for making the health of users mental and also ethical in the digital environment to protect the users while using social media. To encourage the users to get positive and involve them in online activities meaningfully. Social media provides its impact according to the way that the user uses it. According to that, risk detection that is related to artificial intelligence (AI) and also designs are used for ethical consideration.

Unlocking the hidden hand of misinformation diffusion on social media platform in public health emergency: A hybrid approach

JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON MENTAL HEALTH AMONG YOUNG ADULTS: EXPLORING ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND DIGITAL INTERVENTION APPROACHES

Background: Social media has become deeply integrated into the daily lives of young adults, offering opportunities for communication, education, entertainment, and professional networking. However, excessive and maladaptive use has been increasingly associated with adverse mental health outcomes, particularly anxiety and depression. The psychological consequences of prolonged digital engagement have emerged as a significant public health concern. Objective: This narrative review explores the influence of social media on mental health among young adults, with a particular emphasis on anxiety, depression, and evidence-based digital intervention strategies aimed at promoting psychological well-being. Methods: A comprehensive review of published literature from peer-reviewed journals, systematic reviews, and international reports was conducted. Databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar were consulted using keywords such as social media, mental health, young adults, anxiety, depression, digital interventions, and psychological well-being. Studies published primarily between 2018 and 2025 were prioritized. Results: Evidence consistently demonstrates that problematic social media use, excessive screen time, cyberbullying, fear of missing out (FoMO), social comparison, and sleep disturbances contribute to increased risks of anxiety and depressive symptoms among young adults. Conversely, responsible social media use can foster social support, health education, peer engagement, and access to mental health resources. Emerging digital interventions—including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based mobile applications, mindfulness programs, digital literacy initiatives, and algorithm-assisted mental health monitoring—have shown promising outcomes in reducing psychological distress. Conclusion: Social media represents both a risk factor and an opportunity for mental health promotion. Balanced usage, enhanced digital literacy, institutional policies, and evidence-based interventions can mitigate adverse psychological outcomes while maximizing the benefits of digital connectivity.