How Does Social Media Use Relate to Adolescents’ Internalizing Symptoms? Conclusions from a Systematic Narrative Review

The growing prominence of social media use among teenagers has prompted researchers in psychology and communication science to consider connections between social media activities and youths’ development and well-being. This systematic, narrative review evaluated associations between social media use and the internalizing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and loneliness among 12–18-year-olds, based on 68 qualifying empirical studies conducted between 2000 and 2017. For each symptom, analyses assessed the theoretical underpinnings of studies; the strength, direction, and consistency of associations with social media use; and factors mediating or moderating these associations. Investigators often reported positive associations between social media use and internalizing symptoms, but more nuanced studies pointed to individual, contextual, or media-based factors qualifying these direct effects. Future research would benefit from more theory-driven approaches, consistent measurements of key constructs, and a combination of longitudinal and experimental designs to identify causal associations. Integrating concepts from developmental psychology, clinical psychology, and communication science would aid in understanding the seemingly complex relationships between social media use and adolescents’ internalizing symptoms.