A comprehensive review reveals that social media’s effects on young people depend on usage, content, and cultural context, urging moderation, digital literacy, and offline interactions to mitigate risks.
A new review has pushed back against the idea that social media is simply good or bad for young people, arguing instead that the effects depend on how platforms are used, what content is encountered and how vulnerable the user may be. Published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, the paper says social media can support connection, self-expression and access to help, but can also deepen loneliness, fuel body image concerns and worsen symptoms of depression and anxiety. The findings echo earlier reviews and public health warnings that have treated screen time as only one part of a much broader picture.
The authors reviewed 33 peer-reviewed studies drawn from PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar, focusing on people younger than 40. Their synthesis suggests that active, relational use tends to be linked with better outcomes than passive scrolling or evaluative behaviour, such as constant comparison with others. They also found that social media can provide emotional support in difficult moments and help young people find information about mental health and suicide prevention, although it should not be treated as a substitute for offline relationships.
The risks become clearer when use turns compulsive or highly comparative. The review says unrealistic beauty standards and appearance-focused content are associated with poor body image, lower self-esteem, anxiety and depression, with girls and young women often more affected. It also notes links between problematic social media use and shorter sleep, loneliness, risky alcohol use and substance misuse, while citing evidence that bullying online and exposure to self-harm material can increase distress and suicidal thinking.
The broader literature points in the same direction. A 2023 systematic review found that social media use can bring benefits when it is used carefully, but that excessive use, especially beyond 3 hours a day, is linked with a higher risk of depression and anxiety. Another review published that year reported that greater screen exposure, particularly on weekdays, was associated with lower well-being, with girls facing a higher risk of depression. The US Surgeon General has also warned that as many as 95% of 13- to 17-year-olds use social media and that more than a third are online almost constantly.
The review’s authors argue that culture matters too. They say the effect of social media on mental health is shaped by individualism and collectivism, local beauty norms and the pressures young people face in different societies, which means simple limits on screen time are unlikely to be enough on their own. They call for digital literacy, moderation of harmful content, healthier online habits and more offline contact, while noting that much of the evidence remains cross-sectional and cannot prove cause and effect. Longer-term studies and intervention trials, they say, are needed to show what actually works.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
