The Impact of Social Media Use on Adolescent Mental Health: The Double-Edged Sword Effect and Its Mechanism

社交媒体在青少年群体中广泛普及，其对青少年心理健康的影响具有双刃剑效应。一方面，社交媒体为青少年提供了拓展社交、表达自我和获取资源的机会，对心理健康有积极促进作用；另一方面，过度或不当使用社交媒体，可能导致青少年出现抑郁、焦虑等心理健康问题。本文通过梳理国内外相关研究，深入剖析社交媒体使用对青少年心理健康影响的双刃剑效应，并从社会比较、睡眠干扰、网络欺凌、社会支持等方面探讨其内在机制，旨在为引导青少年合理使用社交媒体、维护心理健康提供理论依据。Social media is widely popular among teenagers, and its impact on their mental health is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, social media offers teenagers opportunities to expand their social circle, express themselves, and access resources, which positively promotes their mental health. On the other hand, excessive or improper use of social media may lead to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety among teenagers. This article, by reviewing relevant domestic and international research, deeply analyzes the double-edged sword effect of social media use on the mental health of teenagers, and explores its internal mechanisms from aspects such as social comparison, sleep disruption, cyberbullying, and social support, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for guiding teenagers to use social media reasonably and maintain their mental health.