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

Abstract

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.