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REVIEW

Understanding Adolescent Social Media Use: A Narrative Review of Motivations, Risk Factors, and Mental Health Implications

Kyung-Hyun Suh1,*, Sung-Jin Chung1, Goo-Churl Jeong1, Kunho Lee1, Ji-Hyun Ryu2
1 Department of Counseling Psychology, Sahmyook University, Seoul, 01795, Republic of Korea
2 Addiction & Trauma Recovery Institute, Kangwon National University, Samcheok, 25913, Republic of Korea
* Corresponding Author: Kyung-Hyun Suh. Email: email
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Causes, Consequences and Interventions for Emerging Social Media Addiction)

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion https://doi.org/10.32604/ijmhp.2025.071879

Received 14 August 2025; Accepted 13 November 2025; Published online 24 November 2025

Abstract

This narrative review examines adolescent social media use by exploring its underlying motivations, risk and protective factors across personal, environmental, and digital domains, and their implications for mental health. Adolescents engage with social media for connection, self-expression, and identity exploration. Individual vulnerabilities—such as low self-esteem, impulsivity, and poor sleep—interact with contextual factors like peer pressure and family conflict to elevate risks. Digital environments shaped by algorithmic feeds, feedback mechanisms, and curated content promote social comparison and fear of missing out, further contributing to problematic usage patterns. These risks are counterbalanced by potential protective elements, including authentic self-expression, social support, and positive feedback. Gender, culture, and developmental stage are related to both engagement and outcomes. Despite increasing research, many studies have relied on cross-sectional designs and culturally limited samples, highlighting the need for more diverse and longitudinal investigations. This review calls for targeted, developmentally informed strategies to promote adolescent mental health in the digital era.

Keywords

Adolescents; social media; mental health; self-identity; cyberbullying; digital risk factors

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