The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health Among University Students

Abstract

The Use of Social Media in Student Life. Social media has become an important element in the lives of college students in today's digital age. Although it facilitates communication and access to information, excessive use of social media can have adverse effects on mental health. This study aims to evaluate the effect of social media use on college students' mental state, especially with regard to anxiety, depression, and self-esteem. The method used in this research is Literature Review Study.  Literature searches were conducted on national and international journals published in the last ten years, focusing on issues such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, and self-image disorders. The review showed that excessive use of social media can trigger mental health disorders. However, on the other hand, social media can also provide psychosocial benefits such as emotional support and social connectivity when used in a positive and controlled manner and showed a significant relationship between frequency of social media use and levels of anxiety and depression. In addition, social media use that tends towards social comparison was also found to have a negative impact on students' self-esteem. These results suggest the need for awareness and education on how to use social media healthily as well as the importance of psychosocial support for university students.