Harmony in the Digital Labyrinth: The Pursuit of Psychological Well‐Being for Youth in the Digital Age

Social media offers numerous advantages, yet the dark side of it haunts youth. One of the several potential detrimental aspects appears as social media addiction (SmA), which poses risks to the psychological well-being (PW) of youth. Among university students, excessive social media use can lead to SmA and a subsequent decrease in PW. This study scrutinizes the mediating effects of techno-invasion (TI) and techno-overload (TO), instigated by SmA, on students' psychological well-being, a relationship that previous research has not conclusively explored. Our research constructs a model to examine the moderating effects of social capital, specifically through the lenses of social bonding and social bridging, on the nexus between social media-induced challenges and psychological well-being. This investigation examines the associations between SmA, TO and TI through self-esteem among students. Data collected through a three-wave time-lagged design from 991 university students in Abu Dhabi, UAE, were analyzed with the PROCESS macro. The findings reveal that SmA is significantly negatively related to students' self-esteem, which in turn is associated with increased levels of TI and TO, ultimately reducing psychological well-being. Moreover, the study verifies the moderating roles of social bonding and social bridging in the TI-PW and TO-PW relationships. The paper concludes by addressing the broader implications of these findings and suggesting avenues for future research in this domain. This study demonstrates how SmA reduces self-esteem, which in turn increases TO and TI, ultimately leading to a decline in PW. The findings suggest that improving self-esteem and enhancing social capital through stronger connections with family and friends can help alleviate the negative consequences of SmA on students' well-being, offering valuable contributions to the literature on digital stress and mental health.