ACTIVE VS. PASSIVE SOCIAL MEDIA USE AND ITS PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF PATTERNS, MECHANISMS, AND INTERVENTIONS (2019–2025)

This study rigorously investigates the nuanced association between various patterns of social media use and mental health outcomes, emphasizing both positive phenomena (social support, well‑being, coping mechanisms) and negative trajectories (anxiety, depressive symptoms, addictive behaviors, body-image disturbance, and suicidal ideation). Analyses distinguish active use (posting, commenting) from passive use (scrolling, viewing) and spotlight compulsive or addictive engagement patterns. The paper includes a systematic synthesis of meta-analyses, cohort studies, longitudinal experimental findings, and intervention trials from 2019 to mid‑2025. Key results reveal weak overall correlations between usage and mental health, but stronger links emerge for certain patterns: active posting is associated with anxiety and slight well‑being gains; passive use is consistently tied to elevated depressive symptoms through mechanisms like social comparison. Intervention studies show that therapy-based programs rooted in cognitive-behavioral or mindfulness techniques substantially outperform simple time restrictions or abstinence. The discussion contextualizes results within broader theoretical frameworks and demographic factors, offering targeted recommendations for clinical practice, policy, platform design, and future longitudinal causal research.