Who is most at risk? Identifying the risks for mental health problems related to social media

Although most adolescents use social media, not all experience negative effects on their mental health. Identifying which youths are most vulnerable to mental health problems related to social media remains a critical area of research to inform prevention. Currently, there is insufficient examination of the potential moderators of the relationship between social media use and mental health outcomes, limiting our understanding. Research has primarily focused on which youths are most at risk on the basis of demographic factors and preexisting mental health problems. Findings suggest that cisgender girls, youths with minoritized identities, and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds or with preexisting mental health problems are at a greater risk for the negative effects of media on their mental health. Paradoxically, these same youths may also be more likely to benefit from social media. Youths who engage with media in problematic ways may also suffer from related mental health problems. However, most research fails to systematically examine these factors and employ limited methods. This chapter provides a summary of the current evidence on the role of social media in mental health, acknowledges its limitations, highlights directions for future research, and provides recommendations for diverse key stakeholders based on our current science to inform prevention efforts.