Adolescent wellbeing and social media use

Section A: Presents a narrative literature review using a systematic search methodology of studies examining statistical moderators of social media use and adolescent wellbeing. The review revealed multiple moderators with gender as the most consistent. Clinical recommendations include increasing awareness of moderators associated with harmful effects in adolescents. Research recommendations are made including the need for validated passive social media use measures, greater to attention to a wider range of moderators and the need to adopt measures that capture adolescents’ responses to specific content or qualities of social media interactions.

Section B: Presents a cross-sectional study of the relationship between social media use and social anxiety in a sample of 76 UK adolescents. Several hypotheses were tested relating to social media use and social anxiety, including the moderating role of age. Hypothetical vignettes were used to explore the cognitive, emotional and behavioural responses to social media scenarios. Results show social anxiety was significantly associated with investment and passive use of social media, and both negative cognitive appraisal and emotional responses to vignettes. Age was also found to moderate the relationship between negative cognitive appraisal and passive social media use. Findings are discussed in terms of adolescents who may be more vulnerable to harmful effects on social media. Clinical and research implications are considered.