Concerns such as being liked, approved, and visible on social media may create a basis for the development of mental health problems among users. In this context, social media can lead to addiction, influencing daily life and shaping personal identities according to online dynamics. This study examines problematic social media use through the example of Instagram, focusing on various variables within a sample from Uşak province. It addresses the individual and societal outcomes of social media use by considering duration and frequency of use, as well as emotional reactions when access is restricted. The aim of the study is to contribute to understanding the psychological and social impacts of social media and to identify the dimensions of digital addiction on a scientific basis. The significance lies in raising academic and public awareness regarding the effects of an increasingly digitalized social structure on individuals, while also providing region-based evaluations specific to Uşak. Most participants are young, female, and high school graduates. They use Instagram for an average of 3–4 hours per day, a duration considered within the risky range for social media addiction. Entertainment and the desire for popularity or social approval are the dominant motivations for use. This indicates that young people view social media both as a means of passing time and as a tool for gaining recognition. Participants exhibit problematic behavioral patterns close to addiction, particularly difficulty controlling usage time and experiencing negative emotions when access is limited. Keywords: Instagram, Problematic social media use, Social media addiction, Uşak Province.
In the digital age, social media has become a dominant force shaping the behaviours, thoughts, and emotional well-being of young individuals. While it offers numerous benefits such as connectivity, information sharing, and entertainment, the excessive and unregulated use of social media platforms has raised serious concerns regarding mental health, particularly among students. This study investigates the impact of social media on the mental health of secondary school students in Kendrapara District, Odisha, through a case study approach. A mixed-method research design was employed, involving both quantitative (structured surveys) and qualitative (semi-structured interviews) tools. A randomly selected sample of 50 students was surveyed to examine the frequency, platform preference, duration of use, and associated psychological effects, including anxiety, depression, poor self-esteem, and emotional fatigue.
The study found that prolonged exposure to social media, cyberbullying, fear of missing out (FOMO), and constant social comparison were strongly correlated with symptoms of mental distress. Many students reported difficulty focusing on academic tasks, disrupted sleep patterns, and feelings of social isolation despite being digitally connected. The findings highlight the urgent need for digital literacy programs, mental health awareness campaigns, and institutional policies that promote balanced digital engagement. The study also offers recommendations for parents, educators, and policymakers to build a safe and supportive digital environment for students.
By identifying key risk factors and proposing preventive strategies, this research contributes to the broader discourse on adolescent well-being in the digital era. The insights from this study will aid in developing more comprehensive interventions to mitigate the psychological challenges associated with social media use among secondary students.
Keywords: Social Media, Mental Health, Secondary Students, Cyberbullying, Digital Well-being
Prof. (Dr.) B. C. Swain Prof. (Dr.) B. C. Swain· International Scientific Jou...· 0 citations
Excessive Instagram use has been linked to negative effects on psychological well-being, particularly through Social Comparison, Self-Esteem, and Anxiety. This study surveyed 424 Instagram users aged 18 to 40 in Chile. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) showed that higher Instagram Use (IU) positively correlates with Social Comparison (SC), which strongly predicts Shared Content Anxiety (SCA) and Self-Evaluation Anxiety (SEA) and negatively affects Self-Esteem (SE). The direct effect of IU on SCA is significant but weaker, while IU does not significantly impact SEA or SE. An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) provided complementary predictive evidence regarding the relative importance of social comparison and Instagram use dimensions. By integrating SEM and ANN, this study provides a comprehensive view of how Instagram use shapes mental health. In line with previous research, these results highlight the necessity of digital literacy and mindful social media use to mitigate negative outcomes, especially among younger adults susceptible to self-perception issues. They are contextualized within existing literature, calling for further research on social media's long-term effects. Overall, the findings offer a nuanced perspective on how Instagram Use, Social Comparison, and Self-Esteem interrelate to influence anxiety and well-being, underscoring the platform's potential to exacerbate vulnerabilities in emotional health.
Cristóbal Fernández-Robin, Diego Yáñez, Mario R. Paredes et al.· Psychological Reports· 0 citations
Background: In contemporary society, marked by rapid transformations in the sphere of communication and social interaction, social networks have gone beyond the role of simple communication platforms, becoming places where identities are formed, cultural norms are negotiated and self-perceptions are shaped. This reality has generated a growing interest in studying the relationship between the digital environment and health behaviors, especially among young people, a social category extremely receptive to visual and normative influences promoted online. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among students enrolled in different kinds of faculties and specialties. An online questionnaire was distributed to gather socio-demographic, academic and medical data along with lifestyle and health-related behaviors. Several psychometric instruments were used: Health Behaviour Scale (HBS) to measure various dimensions of health-related actions, Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) to screen for addictive or problematic social media use, Social Media Disorder Scale (SMDS) to measure the problematic social media use among adolescents, Body Appreciation Scale–2 (BAS-2) to evaluate measure of one’s acceptance, favorable opinions and respect of their own body, and Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) to identify the psychological motives behind overeating. Results: More than 70% of students declared that they had their first smartphone before the age of 12 and 65% of students had screentime higher than 3 h per day during the weekdays, with a small increase during the weekends. Women scored higher than men in emotional eating (food consumption in response to negative emotions), and external eating (response to food stimuli in the environment, independent of hunger). Respondents from rural areas showed a significantly lower level of respect and acceptance of their own body and higher risk for Social Media Disorder compared to participants from urban areas. Important statistical correlation has been identified among the variables of the research. Social media addiction was associated with higher emotional eating both directly and indirectly, via lower body appreciation. The analysis also indicated that it does not show a direct relationship with restrictive eating behaviors; rather, its association with restrained eating is fully mediated by the individual’s body appreciation. Conclusions: The use of social platforms is a challenging process, with a great impact on psychological and emotional balance of young people. Even if the study identified a normative use among young people with a high education level, the risks factors should be taken into consideration when dealing with screentime, psychological and mental health and the risk for addiction.
Șerban-Laurențiu Panciuc, Iustina-Gabriela Mihăianu, L. Colibaba et al.· Societies· 0 citations
Instagram has become one of the most dominant social media platforms among Generation Z, particularly due to its visually driven features that encourage continuous exposure to curated content and idealized self-presentations. Such conditions may intensify social comparison processes, which play a crucial role in shaping individuals' self-evaluation, psychological well-being, and mental health outcomes among young people, in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 3). This study aims to examine the effects of active and passive Instagram use on upward and downward social comparison among Generation Z in Indonesia. Employing a quantitative explanatory research design, data were collected from 239 Indonesian Instagram users aged 18–25 years through an online survey. Active and passive Instagram use were measured using adapted behavioral engagement scales, while social comparison tendencies were assessed using upward and downward comparison dimensions. The data were analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis. The results indicate that both active and passive Instagram use significantly influence upward and downward social comparison. Passive Instagram use demonstrates a stronger association with upward social comparison, whereas both usage patterns contribute to downward social comparison. These findings suggest that the psychological impact of Instagram is not solely determined by usage intensity, but also by the manner in which users engage with the platform.
Daniella Clara Lukmana, Ezmieralda Melissa· 2026 11th International Conf...· 0 citations
This article addresses the rapidly emerging issue of the psychological
influence of social networking platforms on young people. As social media occupies
a central role in the everyday lives of younger users, their deep involvement in the
digital environment gives rise to a range of psychological and social challenges,
including the spread of cyberbullying, body dysmorphia, deficits in face-to-face
communication skills, reduced levels of emotional intelligence, cognitive impairments,
and increased vulnerability to mental health disorders. Against the backdrop of society’s
digital transformation, the study highlights the necessity of exploring the theoretical
underpinnings of social media’s psychological effects on youth.
Particular attention is given to new content formats, such as accelerated
consumption patterns and short-form videos (e.g., TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube
Shorts). These formats contribute to the development of clip thinking (a cognitive
style characterized by fragmented and discontinuous processing of information),
intensify sensory overload, and may trigger shifts in both cognitive functioning and
emotional regulation. The article presents an overview of contemporary research on
the psychological consequences of social media use, outlines the multiple levels of
its influence on the individual, identifies existing gaps in the literature, and proposes
directions for future inquiry.
M. Muratova, G. Menlibekova· Psychology and Cognitive Sci...· 0 citations
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.
S. Ruksana· BOHR International Journal o...· 0 citations