
This narrative review synthesizes current research on adolescent social media use, examining underlying motivations and mental health implications. It explores risk and protective factors across personal, environmental, and digital domains. Individual vulnerabilities—such as low self-esteem and poor sleep—interact with peer and family contexts to amplify risks. Digital environments, characterized by algorithmic feeds and curated content, often foster social comparison and problematic usage. Protective factors include authentic self-expression and social support, with gender, culture, and developmental stage influencing outcomes. While evidence is growing, many studies rely on cross-sectional designs and culturally limited samples. The review highlights the need for longitudinal, diverse research and developmentally informed strategies to support adolescent mental health in digital spaces.
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