1.       USE TEMPLATE

Introduction

Researchers are more interested in looking into how social media use affects mental health since it
continues to play an important role in people's lives all around the world. Given that mental
health problems are widespread around the world, the connection between social media use and mental
health has been a subject of great concern. Three studies that study the connection between social
media and mental health are subjected to a critical analysis in this overview of the literature.
While some studies have found a link between social media use and better mental health outcomes,
other studies have shown that excessive social media use can have a detrimental effect on mental
health. Therefore, in order to better comprehend the implications for both individuals and society
as a whole, it is crucial to take into account the possible advantages and disadvantages of social
media use on mental health.

Literature Review

The study by Lin et al. (2016) viewed the association between social media use and depression among
young adults in the United States. Researchers discovered that people who spent more time on social
media had higher depression risk. The authors believe that the negative effects of social media on
mental health may be caused by social comparison, exposure to unfavorable events  and news, and the
pressure to maintain an ideal online persona.  Although the study provides evidence of the
potential negative effects of social media use on mental health, it is limited by the fact that the
data was collected at a single point in time and relied on self-reported measures.

Braghieri, Levy, and Makarin (2020) present a report on the current state of social media use in
the United States. They conducted an analysis of the data gathered from over 4,000 adults by the
Pew Research Centre, revealing that most Americans use one or more social media platforms. The
report also highlighted the differences in social media use across different age groups. Although
the report provides valuable insights into social media use in the United States, it is limitited
by the fact that it only focuses on one country.

Bashir and Bhat (2020) reviewed recent research on the effects of social media on mental health.
The authors examined both potential negative and positive effects of social media use on mental
health, including anxiety, stress, depression, loneliness, and self-esteem. The authors found that
the more time spent on social media, the more likely one is to experience one of the potential
negative effects. The article also highlights the rise of Phantom Vibration Syndrome, which is the
frequent checking of messages even though nobody texted you. While this article provides a
comprehensive overview of the potential effects of social media on mental health, it is limited by
the fact that it does not include any original research and only relies on existing studies.

 In their 2015 study, Fardouly, Diedrichs, Vartanian, and Halliwell looked at the connection
between young women's usage of social media and issues with body image. They discovered that women
who spent more time on social media had greater issues with their bodies. According to the authors,
social media gives people a place to constantly compare themselves to others, which can result in
inflated standards of beauty.

Hampton, Rainie, Lu, Shin, and Purcell (2015) looked into the function of social media in
establishing and sustaining interpersonal connections. They discovered that using social media can
support people in maintaining contact with distant friends and relatives. But the study also
discovered that excessive social media use could cause feelings of social isolation and loniless.

In a 2017 study, Huang and Alessandro looked at how social media use affected college students'
self-esteem in the US. Only individuals who used social media to communicate with close friends and
family members showed a favorable relationship between their usage of social media and self-esteem,
according to the authors. According to the study, social media can provide users a sense of
acceptance and validation, which may increase self-esteem. The study's use of self-reported
measures of social media usage and self-esteem, however, places certain restrictions on its
findings.

Conclusion

Overall, the studies reviewed in this literature review suggest that social media use may have
negative effects on mental health, particularly among young people. The potential negative effects
identified include depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness. While some studies have also
highlighted potential positive effects, such as increased self-esteem and social support, further
research is needed to better understand the complex relationship between social media use and
mental health. Interventions aimed at reducing social media use may be beneficial for mental
health.

Reference list

Bashir, H., & Bhat, S. A. (2020). Effects of social media on mental health. Current Opinion in
Psychology, 36, 7-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.07.010

Braghieri, L., Levy, R., & Makarin, A. (2020). Social media and mental health. Current Opinion in
Psychology, 36, 30-34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.08.019

 Lin, L. Y., Sidani, J. E., Shensa, A., Radovic, A., Miller, E., Colditz, J. B., ... & Primack, B.
A. (2016). Association between social media use and depression among U.S. young adults. Depression
and anxiety, 33(4), 323-331. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22466

Fardouly, J., Diedrichs, P. C., Vartanian, L. R., & Halliwell, E. (2015). Social comparisons on
social media: The impact of Facebook on young women's body image concerns and mood. Body Image, 13,
38-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2014.12.002

Hampton, K. N., Rainie, L., Lu, W., Shin, I., & Purcell, K. (2015). Social media and interpersonal
communication. Pew Research Center.
https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2015/08/19/the-demographics-of-social-media-users/

Huang, C., & Alessandro, C. (2017). Social media use and self-esteem in college students. Journal
of Educational Computing Research, 55(8), 1065-1078. https://doi.org/10.1177/0735633117711657