The Impact Of Social Media on The Mental Health of Adolescents
Keywords:
Social media, adolescent mental health, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, social comparison, digital wellbeingAbstract
The growth of social media has had a tremendous impact on the quality of life for teenagers and mental health. In this paper, we analyze the connection between adolescent use of social media and well-being. It centers on social media usage, linking it to different psychological indicators like anxiety, depression, self-esteem and loneliness. Two theoretical frameworks underpin the current research: Social Comparison Theory and Uses and Gratifications Theory. Existing literature shows positive and negative impact of social media on adolescent mental health. Although social media can provide significant sociability and identity exploration, overuse or unsuitable use is associated with negative mental health impacts. These results can be beneficial for parents, educators, and policymakers to promote positive use of social media among adolescents.
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