The Negative Effects of Social Media on Adolescent Social Connections and Wellbeing
Abstract
Nowadays, social media has become one of the most important parts of adolescent's life, however, its impact on adolescents' social connections and psychological wellbeing is still a debatable question. This study examines the negative effects of social media on adolescent social connections and wellbeing through multiple research. These researches synthesizes findings from employing a systematic review methodology to analyze based on evidence on social media use patterns, mental health outcomes, and social skill development among adolescents aged 13-17. The findings reveal that problematic social media use, characterized by addictive patterns, passive consumption, and social comparison, it is more strongly associated with negative mental health outcomes. Key mechanisms identified include the displacement of essential activities such as sleep and face-to-face interactions, the process of getting fear of missing out (FOMO), and the missing out of offline social skills because of reduced practice of a subtle difference in interpersonal communication. The results further indicate that adolescents' populations, particularly adolescents from low-socioeconomic-status backgrounds, may experience harmful effects. This study concludes that interventions should move beyond simply screen-time limitations toward specific strategies addressing the quality of social media use, and supporting healthy offline social connections.
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