Effects of Social Media on Mental Health: Focusing on Anxiety, Self-Esteem, Social Isolation and Stress on the Public of Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Aim of the Study: This article explores the effects of social media to the mental health, specifically from its users' stress, anxiety, self-esteem, and social isolation points of view. The most extensive objective is to evaluate the use of social media in terms of the psychological health and distress. The study discovers association between social media utilization and its mental health metrics, such as how social comparison yields differences in self-esteem, how social media adds to loneliness, and how psychological manifestations vary across different regions. Methodology: A quantitative survey was conducted with 250 participants in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. This study analyzed the correlation between social media habits and health-related outcomes among people. The data were analyzed by using statistical tools. The validated measures for social isolation, stress, anxiety and self-esteem were included to ensure reliability. Findings: The study results reveal that extensive use of social media is closely tied to adverse mental health outcomes like stress, anxiety, low self-worth, and increased sense of social isolation. This suggests, similar to previous studies such as those by Kim & Park (2021) and Davis & Patel (2021), that there is an urgent goal to create possible methods to counteract these negative effects. The results therefore have very extensive and significant implications. On the flip side, they encourage programs of education that focus on capacity-building in terms of digital literacy and responsible online behaviour. Conclusion: This study concluded that increased use of social media is directly related to detrimental effects on mental health, such as added stress, lower self-esteem, and social isolation. This study underscores the need for specific interventions, such as mental health support and digital literacy programs, to mitigate these impacts and provide a healthier digital environment.