Social Media Addiction among Youth: Emerging Social and Psychological Concerns

Abstract Social media platforms have become integral to the daily lives of adolescents and young adults, yet growing evidence points to a pattern of compulsive, dysregulated engagement commonly described as social media addiction or problematic social media use (PSMU). This paper synthesizes recent empirical findings on the prevalence, psychological correlates, and social consequences of such patterns among youth. Meta-analytic estimates place the prevalence of SNS-related addictive behaviors among school-going adolescents at approximately 25 percent, while population surveys report rates of problematic use ranging from roughly 5 to 15 percent depending on measurement and region. Psychological concerns include elevated risks of anxiety, depression, fear of missing out (FOMO), reduced self-esteem, sleep disruption, and, in high-risk trajectories, increased suicidal ideation and behavior. Social concerns encompass strained peer and family relationships, diminished face-to-face social skills, academic underperformance, and heightened exposure to cyberbullying and appearance-based comparison. The review underscores that addictive patterns of use, rather than mere time spent online, show the most consistent links to adverse outcomes. Implications for parents, educators, clinicians, and platform design are discussed, along with recommendations for prevention and early intervention.