The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health

The widespread use of social media and the changing patterns in adolescent mental health issues has sparked a multifaceted debate around the influence of social media on teenage mental health. The world of virtual socialisation being a unique and very recent problem in human history, the evidence base is continuously evolving. We examined the literature in the last five years, anchoring the evidence on a balanced theoretical frame work, to understand the nuances of this complex relationship. There is a significant influence of social media use on adolescents in general, determined by their unique developmental vulnerabilities and heavily influenced by the sociocultural aspects and type and duration of social media use. The sheer infinite nature of the virtual world and removal of traditional barriers to socialisation has exposed the youth to influences that were hitherto unknown. We found strong evidence in literature to support the amplification of negative emotions in adolescence, contributing to the rapidly increasing incidence of teenage depression and anxiety and even suicidal tendencies. However there is also good evidence to support the positive effects of social media on adolescents, especially so in certain groups and communities. Moreover the evidence is likely to change as we are becoming more digitally resilient and safer practices and regulations continue to evolve and this is an important space to watch for future researchers and practitioners.