Social media usage and its impact on users’ mental health: a longitudinal study and inputs to policymakers

Abstract

Purpose: This paper aims to provide a systematic meta-analysis from the year 2000 up to 2021 by reviewing relevant studies in extant literature related to the impact of social media on mental health.

Design/methodology/approach: This study adopts bibliometric methods and longitudinal statistical analysis to analyze extant literature. The structured literature review and meta-analysis findings on social media usage (SMU) and its impact on mental health indicate emerging research patterns in potentially leading to an integrative view.

Findings: This paper highlights the importance of challenges regarding SMU and its impact on users’ mental health. This study shows interesting meta-analysis on the issues such as Facebook and teenagers’ mental health; Instagram and teenagers’ mental health; Twitter and teenagers’ mental health; and so on from the past 20 years.

Research limitations/implications: This paper is a literature review on a critical social issue like SMU and its impact on users’ mental health. The meta-analysis is conducted only on the indexed paper and does not take the books, blogs and other kinds of literature in this domain. The analysis is carried out only for the research articles published from 2000 to 2021.

Practical implications: Social media refers to any platform involving interactive digital technologies that encourage and facilitate users’ participation. SMU and its impact on users’ mental health can be attributed as contributing factors to the next global crisis. Studies suggest that increased SMU can potentially make users socially anxious. This study provides input to the policymakers, scholars and practitioners to understand the gravity of the situation and develop appropriate policy to overcome the challenges.

Originality/value: The rapidly evolving nature of technology and social media calls for a careful examination of its risks despite the many benefits of e-participation and digital interaction. Although there is widespread acknowledgment of the problematic revelation that the pattern of SMU closely mirrors mainstream addictive behavior; yet, there are only a limited number of comparative studies available. This may be one of the few studies which highlight the issue of SMU and its impact on users’ mental health. Moreover, this study also adds to the body of literature.