High-speed spread of social networking sites have drastically changed communications, socialisation, and psychological lives in young adults. In today’s society, social networking sites, including Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, play a significant role in social interaction, identity formation, and the exchange of information (Boyd & Ellison, 2007; Kaplan & Haenlein, 2010). Although social media provides opportunities for connecting socially, expressing emotions, exchanging information, there is mounting evidence that overuse or misuse is unhealthy for mental health (Naslund et al., 2020; Keles et al., 2020). Previous studies show that excessive use of social networking sites leads to psychological problems, including anxiety, depression, and lower life satisfaction, particularly in the case of young adults who are highly active digital users (Lin et al., 2016; Twenge et al., 2018; Huang, 2017). This paper conducts a critical analysis of the association between social media usage and psychological well-being in young adults. Based on current empirical studies and theories, this article discusses both the positive and negative psychological impact of social media engagement.

On the brighter side, social media can provide a source of social support, identity expression, and community engagement, such as belonging and emotional well-being (Ellison et al., 2007; Best et al., 2014). On the opposite end, overuse of engagement can lead to maladaptive psychological effects like depression, anxiety, isolation, and fear of missing out (FoMO) primarily via social comparison and digital affirmation mechanisms (Przybylski et al., 2013; Vogel et al., 2014; Appel et al., 2020). Research as well points out that passive online content consumption might drive upward social comparison and a detrimental impact on self-esteem and mental health (Verduyn et al., 2017; Steers et al., 2014). The paper also explores mediating and moderating factors for that association between social media engagement and mental health. Those factors are usage behaviours, digital literacy, personality traits, and psychosocial vulnerability (Livingstone et al., 2017; Valkenburg et al., 2022). It is possible that individuals with higher digital literacy and self-regulation ability may understand how to participate better in and self-regulate online environments or better manage psychological risk regarding social media use (Ng, 2012). Lastly, the paper provides some recommendations for balancing digital connectivity and the protection of mental health through digital well-being strategies, policy interventions, and education programs (Odgers & Jensen, 2020; World Health Organization, 2022). Recognizing these dynamics is useful for fostering healthier digital environments conducive to well-being in the digital era.