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

Abstract

Background: Adolescents increasingly engage with social media for connection, self-expression, and identity exploration. This growing digital engagement has raised concerns about its potential risks and mental health implications. Methods: This narrative review examines literature on adolescent social media use by exploring underlying motivations, risk and protective factors across personal, environmental, and digital domains, with a focus on mental health outcomes. Results: 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. Conclusions: 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.