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The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health: A Psychological Perspective
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, 2
The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health: A Psychological Perspective
Social media has become a vital part of the latter day life of an adolescent who spends
his/ her time on it to communicate, interact, and develop. Platforms such as Instagram, Tiktok,
and Snapchat provide perpetual interaction and exposure to life of other people and their lives
are often glamorized and filtered. Although such platforms can help to develop the creativity and
socialize the youth, they also provide significant dangers to the mental health of young users.
Adolescents are negatively affected in terms of their mental health because they are encouraged
to participate in harmful social comparison, anxiety due to constant connectivity is introduced
and there is increased level of sleep disturbances which additionally contributes to emotional
well-being.
The high level of social comparison is one of the most negative psychological impacts of
social media on adolescents leading to low self-esteem. Platforms make users present perfect
pictures of their lives, making other people feel inferior when they compare themselves with
other people. Researches indicate that excessive comparison to online personas curated for that
purpose is associated with self-perception and self-worth (Romero, 2022). These are especially
vulnerable to such pressures, adolescents who are still attempting to define themselves. “But
over time such comparisons may lead to dissatisfaction with one’s life and scenery. As a result,
the social media creates an atmosphere that discourages good adolescent self-esteem instead of
promoting dynamic self-image.
Social media use also increases anxiety in adolescents as a result of the Fear of Missing
Out (FOMO) problem. Adolescents who are constantly exposed to various activities of peers
may be left out or they may appear to be less socially active which is a source of stress and
anxiety (Ariefdjohan et al., 2025). Notifications, likes and messages become sources of continual
anxiety leading to compulsive checking. This fear in combination with the desire for social
The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health: A Psychological Perspective
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Course
Professor
Date
, 2
The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health: A Psychological Perspective
Social media has become a vital part of the latter day life of an adolescent who spends
his/ her time on it to communicate, interact, and develop. Platforms such as Instagram, Tiktok,
and Snapchat provide perpetual interaction and exposure to life of other people and their lives
are often glamorized and filtered. Although such platforms can help to develop the creativity and
socialize the youth, they also provide significant dangers to the mental health of young users.
Adolescents are negatively affected in terms of their mental health because they are encouraged
to participate in harmful social comparison, anxiety due to constant connectivity is introduced
and there is increased level of sleep disturbances which additionally contributes to emotional
well-being.
The high level of social comparison is one of the most negative psychological impacts of
social media on adolescents leading to low self-esteem. Platforms make users present perfect
pictures of their lives, making other people feel inferior when they compare themselves with
other people. Researches indicate that excessive comparison to online personas curated for that
purpose is associated with self-perception and self-worth (Romero, 2022). These are especially
vulnerable to such pressures, adolescents who are still attempting to define themselves. “But
over time such comparisons may lead to dissatisfaction with one’s life and scenery. As a result,
the social media creates an atmosphere that discourages good adolescent self-esteem instead of
promoting dynamic self-image.
Social media use also increases anxiety in adolescents as a result of the Fear of Missing
Out (FOMO) problem. Adolescents who are constantly exposed to various activities of peers
may be left out or they may appear to be less socially active which is a source of stress and
anxiety (Ariefdjohan et al., 2025). Notifications, likes and messages become sources of continual
anxiety leading to compulsive checking. This fear in combination with the desire for social
