Impacto Psicológico del Uso de Redes Sociales en Adolescentes de Bachillerato: Diseño e Implementación de Talleres de Prevención

This study analyzed the psychological impact of social media use on high school adolescents from an educational institution in Guayaquil, Ecuador, with the objective of designing preventive workshops. A mixed methodology with a non-experimental and cross-sectional approach was used. A structured survey was administered to 15 students to evaluate cognitive, affective, and behavioral dimensions, complemented by focus groups that explored patterns of social media use. The results showed: Significant deficits in abstract thinking (93% showed difficulties in logical tests), metacognition (53% unable to plan solutions), and executive functions (60% without a life plan); Low self-esteem (53% dissatisfied with themselves) and symptoms of nomophobia (anxiety due to lack of online responses); An average of 4 hours of daily social media use was associated with poor academic performance, sleep disturbances, and anxiety. These findings supported the design of preventive workshops to promote responsible use of social media, strengthen cognitive-emotional skills, and mitigate psychosocial risks.