The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health

Dear Colleagues,

The pervasive adoption of social media has sparked ongoing discussions about its impact on mental health. As a distinct social context, social media has the potential to foster connection, inclusion, and social support, as well as contribute to identity formation and knowledge sharing; at the same time, concerns have emerged about its role in empathy development, communication skills, loneliness, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, stress, suicidal ideation, misinformation, and overall well-being. We adopt a relatively broad definition of social media, encompassing online contexts that involve user-generated content, personal profiles, and interconnected social networks. Research in this area can shed light on both the risks and the benefits of social media engagement—whether through general use patterns or specific online behaviors—and uncover the underlying mechanisms and moderating factors that shape these outcomes.

This Special Issue aims to supplement existing literature by bringing together findings that highlight the complex and multifaceted relationship between social media use and mental health across diverse populations, cultures, platforms, and contexts. By offering a comprehensive perspective on when, why, and for whom social media supports or undermines psychological well-being, the Special Issue seeks to guide future research and inform preventive and intervention strategies that foster healthier social media practices.

We welcome submissions from a wide range of psychological perspectives, including cyberpsychology, developmental, cognitive, social, personality, media psychology, communication, clinical, counselling, and neuroscience approaches. Contributions may examine normative or problematic patterns of social media use, overall well-being indicators, or clinical disorders, and investigate the role of social media in mental health across daily experiences and long-term outcomes. Additional topics can include the use of social media as an information source related to mental health concerns, its impact on sleep, or the effectiveness of interventions designed to promote healthier social media use. Studies employing quantitative, qualitative, mixed-method, or interdisciplinary designs are all encouraged.

Dr. Malinda Desjarlais
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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