The Effect of Social Media Use on Depressive Symptoms

Abstract

The rising incidence of social media usage among youth and adults has raised worries about its impact on mental health, particularly depressed symptoms. This study analyzes whether social media use predicts depression symptoms in adolescents and adults. The quantitative study uses a Kaggle survey of 481 adults and adolescents on a 5-point Likert scale. It assessed depression and social media use length and frequency. Data analysis is done in SPSS using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and simple linear regression to determine if social media use can predict depressive symptoms. A positive correlation exists between social media use and depression. Social media also causes teenage and adult interest changes and sleep disruptions. The findings add to the mental health discourse of adolescents and warn parents, lawmakers, and educators about social media overuse. Mental health interventions and digital well-being activities are crucial policy and parental guiding insights, according to the study. Future research can examine social media’s long-term mental health consequences and mediation processes. Social media online interactions, and coping mechanisms can be examined to determine their impact on depression symptoms.