The impact of Social Media on Mental Health: A narrative literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v14i12.50289Keywords:
Anxiety, Depression, Social Media, Mental Health, Social Behavior.Abstract
The exponential expansion of social media has transformed communication, identity construction, and access to information. However, growing evidence shows that excessive use may contribute to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, eating disorders, and exposure to cyberbullying. This article aims to analyze the positive and negative mental health impacts of social media use across different age groups. A narrative literature review was conducted in PubMed, Scielo and BVS databases, including studies published between 2017 and 2025. Results show that usage time, engagement patterns, interaction quality and individual psychological characteristics play a central role in determining outcomes. Although risks are predominant in certain contexts, social media also offer benefits such as health information dissemination, emotional support and community building. We conclude that impacts depend on how platforms are used, moderated, and integrated into everyday life. Strengthening digital education, parental monitoring, and psychosocial interventions is crucial to mitigate harms and promote healthier online environments.
References
Andreassen, C. S., Pallesen, S., & Griffiths, M. D. (2017). The relationship between addictive use of social media, narcissism, and self-esteem: Findings from a large national survey. Addictive Behaviors, 64, 287–293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.03.006
Appel, H., Crusius, J., & Gerlach, A. L. (2020). Social comparison, envy, and depression on social networking sites: A systematic review. Current Opinion in Psychology, 36, 32–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.04.004
Becker, S. P., Dvorsky, M. R., & Cunningham, C. E. (2020). Prospective associations of sleep with social media use in youth. Sleep Medicine, 67, 211–218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2019.11.124
Bell, B. T., Cassarly, J. A., & Dunbar, L. (2021). The impact of social media on body image concerns in young women. Body Image, 38, 201–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.04.010
Cheng, C., Ebrahimi, O. V., & Lau, Y. (2021). Social media addiction and psychological distress: A meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 77(12), 2681–2705. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23294
Elhai, J. D., Dvorak, R. D., Levine, J. C., & Hall, B. J. (2021). Problematic smartphone use: A conceptual overview and systematic review of relations with anxiety and depression psychopathology. Journal of Affective Disorders, 223, 96–100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.07.047
Escobar-Viera, C. G., Sotero, M. N. S., Silva, N. M. J., & França, C. C. (2021). Social media use and mental health: A narrative review of beneficial and harmful effects. Journal of Social Media in Society, 10(2), 45–68.
Fardouly, J., & Vartanian, L. R. (2021). Social media and body image concerns: Current research and future directions. Current Opinion in Psychology, 45, 101–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.12.002
Holland, G., & Tiggemann, M. (2017). A systematic review of the impact of the use of social networking sites on body image and disordered eating outcomes. Body Image, 20, 100–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.11.002
Huang, C. (2022). A meta-analysis of the problematic social media use and mental health among adolescents. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 25(1), 52–63. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2021.0038
John, A., Glendenning, A. C., Marchant, A., Montgomery, P., Stewart, A., Wood, S., Lloyd, K., & Hawton, K. (2018). Self-harm, suicidal behaviors, and cyberbullying in children and young people: Systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 20(4), e129. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.9044
Keles, B., McCrae, N., & Grealish, A. (2020). The influence of social media on depression, anxiety and psychological distress in adolescents: A systematic review. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 25(1), 79–93. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2019.1590851
Kowalski, R. M., Giumetti, G. W., Schroeder, A. N., & Lattanner, M. R. (2019). Bullying in the digital age: A critical review and meta-analysis of cyberbullying research. Psychological Bulletin, 140(4), 1073–1137. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035618
Liu, J., Ying, X., Li, S., & Yang, Y. (2022). Passive social media use and depression among adolescents: A meta-analytic review. Computers in Human Behavior, 133, 107289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.107289
Marino, C., Gini, G., Vieno, A., & Spada, M. M. (2018). Problematic Facebook use: A comprehensive meta-analysis. Computers in Human Behavior, 83, 262–277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.02.009
Meier, A., & Reinecke, L. (2021). Social media and mental health: A conceptual and methodological review. Media Psychology, 24(1), 67–116. https://doi.org/10.1080/15213269.2020.1869481
Nabity-Grover, T., Cheung, C. M. K., & Thatcher, J. B. (2020). Social media and empathy: A double-edged sword. Information Systems Journal, 30(3), 187–213. https://doi.org/10.1111/isj.12260
Naslund, J. A., Aschbrenner, K. A., Marsch, L. A., & Bartels, S. J. (2020). Digital technology for mental health and wellbeing: A systematic review. Psychiatric Services, 71(6), 534–542. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201900248
Odgers, C. L., & Jensen, M. R. (2020). Annual research review: Adolescent mental health in the digital age: Facts, fears, and future directions. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 61(3), 336–348. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13190
Pantic, I. (2014). Online social networking and mental health: Problems and challenges. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 17(10), 652–657. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2014.0070
Pereira, A. S. et al. (2018). Metodologia da pesquisa científica. (Free ebook). Santa Maria. Editora da UFSM.
Perloff, R. M. (2014). Social media use and body image disturbances: The mediating role of social comparison. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 17(11), 693–699. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2014.0481
Rodgers, R. F., Donovan, E., Cousineau, T., Yates, K., McGowan, K., Cook, E. C., & Lukowicz, M. (2020). Instagram use and young women’s body image concerns and self-objectification. New Media & Society, 22(8), 1385–1403. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444820902363
Rother, E. T. (2007). Revisão sistemática x revisão narrative. Acta Paulista de Enfermagem. 20(2), 5-6.
Saiphoo, A. N., & Vahedi, Z. (2019). Social networking site use and body dissatisfaction: A meta-analysis. Computers in Human Behavior, 101, 259–275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.07.028
Scott, H., & Woods, H. C. (2019). Fear of missing out and sleep: Social media use and sleep quality in adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 51, 21–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2016.05.008
Seabrook, E. M., Kern, M. L., & Rickard, N. S. (2016). Social networking sites, depression, and anxiety: A systematic review. JMIR Mental Health, 3(4), e50. https://doi.org/10.2196/mental.5842
Twenge, J. M. (2020). iGen: Why today’s super-connected kids are growing up less happy. Atria Books.
Valkenburg, P. M., Meier, A., & Beyens, I. (2022). Social media use and mental health: A review. Annual Review of Psychology, 73, 1–33. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-020821-102928
Verduyn, P., Gugushvili, N., Kross, E., & Ybarra, O. (2021). Social media use and well-being: A conceptual and methodological review. Current Opinion in Psychology, 45, 101–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.09.001
Woods, H. C., & Scott, H. (2016). #Sleepyteens: Social media use in adolescence is associated with poor sleep quality, anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. Journal of Adolescence, 51, 21–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2016.05.008
Zhu, C., Huang, S., Evans, R., & Zhang, W. (2021). Cyberbullying among adolescents and its association with mental health. Children and Youth Services Review, 121, 105846. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105846
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Mateus Signorati
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
1) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
2) Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
3) Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
