The impact of social media on mental health

The evolution of technology is significantly transforming human interaction, especially among young people. Social media represents a complex tool with undeniable benefits, but also with significant risks for mental health. This review analyzes the psychological and neurobiological impact of excessive social media use. The paper addresses aspects such as digital addiction, affective disorders, body image issues, sleep quality, cognitive processes and neurofunctional mechanisms, as well as potential interventions and prevention strategies. Novel insights include Default Mode Network activation, the development of social media addiction scales and studies investigating the dose-response relationships between screen exposure and the onset of mental health disorders.