The Impact of Parental Mediation and Social Media Use Frequency on Adolescent Mental Health in China

With the development of the new media era, people have begun to use social media, and teenagers are no exception. The complex and diverse information and content online pique their curiosity, leading them to become immersed in the online world for extended periods, unable to extricate themselves. Furthermore, inappropriate parenting styles have led to an increasing number of adolescents experiencing a range of mental health issues due to social media usage. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the impact and relationship between the frequency of social media use in China and parental mediation on adolescents’ mental health. The analysis of adolescents’ mental health will be conducted through the lens of parental mediation theory. This study used a survey method for data collection, targeting adolescents aged 10 to 19. At least 30 responses were collected for each age group, with 19 questions. Research has confirmed that the frequency of social media use is negatively correlated with the mental health of adolescents, while parental media restrictions and active mediation are positively correlated with adolescents’ mental health. Through this research, it is hoped that parents will remain attentive to their children’s physical and mental development recognize the pessimistic consequences that social media can have on their children’s overall well-being, and work together to create an environment that promotes both online health and mental well-being, allowing young people to grow in a positive and loving atmosphere.