Social Media Use and Adolescent Depressive Symptoms: The Moderating Roles of Gender and Parental Monitoring

Abstract Social media use has significantly reshaped adolescents’ social experiences, raising substantial concerns about its impact on mental health. This study examines the association between social media usage intensity and depressive symptoms among adolescents, emphasizing the moderating roles of parental monitoring and gender. Using logistic regression analysis of the 2023 US Youth Risk Behavior Survey ( N = 10,334), results reveal that moderate and high social media use significantly increases depressive symptoms. Notably, higher parental monitoring mitigates these adverse effects. While females exhibit higher depressive symptoms overall, gender does not significantly moderate social media’s impact. This study highlights the importance of nuanced parental engagement and offers critical insights for policymakers and educators to foster healthier digital environments for adolescents.