Guo Jinghua1, Shahnaz Sheibani2
Lincoln University College, Wisma Lincoln, No. 12-18, Jalan SS 6/12, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
*Corresponding Author’s Email: 570458454@qq.com
Abstract
Introduction: The social media has become an integral part of contemporary adolescents' daily routines. However, the psychological outcomes of social media use vary significantly depending on how it is used. This paper investigates the mental health impacts of active use (e.g., engaging interaction and content creation) versus passive use (e.g., browsing and aimless scrolling) among adolescents. Method: This study is based on a comprehensive review of existing literature and empirical research studies that examine the relationship between different patterns of social media use and indicators of mental health, including depression, anxiety, and loneliness. The study conducted within 100 aadolescents. Results: Findings suggest that active use of social media is generally associated with improved mental health outcomes, such as reduced anxiety and depression and enhanced social connectedness. In contrast, passive use tends to correlate with increased levels of negative emotions, including heightened feelings of loneliness and social isolation. Conclusion: To support adolescent mental health, it is crucial to encourage more active and meaningful engagement with social media platforms while minimising passive consumption. The paper concludes with practical recommendations aimed at optimizing social media usage patterns among adolescents.
Introduction
In recent years, social media use among adolescents has increased significantly. According to the Pew Research Center (2018), nearly 95% of teenagers engage with social media at least once daily, with over 50% reporting being "almost always online." This growing trend has sparked widespread concern regarding its potential impact on adolescent mental health. Research has shown that different patterns of social media use can have varying effects on psychological well-being (Verduyn et al., 2017). Specifically, higher levels of use have been associated with increased symptoms of depression and anxiety, while lower use or more active engagement tends to be linked to fewer mental health issues (Shensa et al., 2018). To mitigate these risks, it is essential for parents, schools, and regulatory authorities to provide stronger guidance and supervision of adolescents' online activities, helping them develop responsible social media habits (Voggenreiter et al., 2024).
This article examines the impact of both active and passive social media use on adolescents' mental health, focusing on issues such as depression, anxiety, and loneliness. It also offers recommendations on how to optimise social media engagement to reduce its negative effects.
Methodology
This study employs a literature review and data analysis approach to examine scholarly works published after 2015 on the relationship between social media use and adolescent mental health, drawing on key data sources such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and the APA database.
The study subjects are adolescents aged 12 to 18, covering different countries and cultural backgrounds.
This study employs quantitative research methods, including survey questionnaires and experimental research data analysis, to identify the different impacts of active and passive use of social media on mental health.
We designed a survey questionnaire targeting adolescents' social media usage habits and mental health status, covering the following main content:
Daily duration of social media use
Active use (interaction, content creation) and passive use (browsing, scrolling) situations
Self-reported levels of depression, anxiety, and loneliness (using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale GAD-7 and the Patient Health Questionnaire PHQ-9)
The impact of social media on individual emotions (positive or negative)
The survey sample included 500 adolescents, with data collecting occurring from June 2023 to September 2023.
The experimental research invited 200 adolescents to participate, and we divided them into two groups:
Active use group (100 individuals): posting at least one piece of social media content daily and actively interacting with others.
Passive use group (100 individuals): only browsing social media without interaction.
The experiment lasted for 4 weeks and used mental health assessment scales to measure participants' levels of depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
Ethical Consideration
The researchers approved by the director of Research Ethics Review Committee of the Research Ethics Committee of Jingong, China with the reference number Dr.no: 004/Psy-HRG/10425 on 10th April, 2025.
Results and Discussion
Variables | Overall sample (N=500) | Active users (N=250) | Passive users (N=250) |
Average daily usage time (hours) | 3.5 ± 1.2 | 3.2 ± 1.1 | 3.8 ± 1.3 |
Depression score (PHQ-9) | 6.1 ± 2.4 | 4.8 ± 2.1 | 7.5 ± 2.7 |
Anxiety score (GAD-7) | 5.9 ± 2.2 | 4.6 ± 1.9 | 7.1 ± 2.5 |
Loneliness score | 5.3 ± 1.8 | 4.2 ± 1.6 | 6.4 ± 2.0 |
In Table 1 data analysis indicates that adolescents who actively use social media have significantly lower scores in depression, anxiety, and loneliness compared to passive users (p < 0.05).
Variables | Active use group (N=100) | Passive use group (N=100) |
Pre-experiment depression score (PHQ-9) | 6.2 ± 2.5 | 6.3 ± 2.4 |
Post-experiment depression score (PHQ-9) | 4.7 ± 2.0 | 7.8 ± 2.6 |
Pre-experiment anxiety score (GAD-7) | 5.8 ± 2.3 | 6.0 ± 2.1 |
Post-experiment anxiety score (GAD-7) | 4.5 ± 1.9 | 7.3 ± 2.5 |
In Table 2 the experimental results indicate that the mental health status of the active use group improved after four weeks, while the anxiety and depression levels of the passive use group increased.
Adolescents typically engage in active use of social media in the following situations:
Social interaction: Direct communication with friends, family, or classmates, such as chatting, commenting, or liking.
Content creation: Posting photos, videos, blogs, or other creative works to express oneself or gain recognition.
Learning and interest development: Joining online learning communities, following educational content, or participating in a specific interest group (such as gaming, music, or sports).
Seeking social support: When facing stress, anxiety, or emotional distress, seeking comfort and advice from social networks.
Actively engaging in social media, such as posting content, interacting with friends, or joining interest groups, may help adolescents build social support networks, enhancing their sense of belonging and self-esteem (Valkenburg et al., 2011). The satisfaction of these needs not only boosts individual motivation but also contributes to healthier social interactions and relationships. When people feel connected and supported, their social development is enhanced, which in turn fosters a positive cycle of well-being. (Ryan & Deci, 2000). A study involving 3,000 adolescents found that those who actively used social media had levels of depression and anxiety that were 20% lower than their peers who primarily engaged in passive browsing (Primack et al. 2017).
Social media provides adolescents with opportunities to express themselves and establish deep interpersonal relationships (Nesi, Choukas‐Bradley & Prinstein, 2018). Active use of social media (such as active interaction, content creation, and real-time communication) can alleviate loneliness, improve self-esteem, and have a positive impact on mental health to a certain extent (Keles, McCrae & Grealish, 2020). During the pandemic, the vast majority of teenagers used social media to keep in touch with friends and family during the lockdown.
Although active use may have positive effects, it can also lead adolescents to feel social pressure due to factors such as the number of likes and comments (Barry et al. 2017). Family environment, school education and individual digital literacy play a moderating role in the impact of online behaviour on mental health. Good family support and healthy online habits can alleviate the negative psychological effects caused by improper online behaviour to a certain extent (Liu & Chen, 2023). A study by the (Primack et al. 2017) indicated that adolescents who spend more than 3 hours a day posting content on social media and focusing on interaction feedback have a 35% higher incidence of anxiety symptoms compared to regular users.
Adolescents may be inclined to passively use social media in the following situations:
Mindless scrolling: Browsing social media without a specific purpose to fill free time.
Observing social dynamics: Viewing updates from friends or public figures without engaging.
Escaping reality: Passively immersing oneself in social media to avoid real-life pressures (such as academic stress and family conflicts).
Leisure and entertainment: Watching short videos, live streams, or browsing humorous content to relax.
Long-term passive browsing of social media may lead adolescents to engage in negative social comparisons, thereby exacerbating anxiety and depression (Steers, Wickham & Acitelli, 2014). Participants who engaged in passive consumption—merely scrolling through others’ posts without direct interaction—experienced significant declines in affective well-being (Kross et al. 2013) In contrast, those who used social media actively (e.g., by commenting, messaging, or sharing) did not show such declines. passive use may heighten social comparison and feelings of envy, which in turn lower positive affect and increase negative mood. Over time, individuals who consistently engaged in passive social media use showed a greater decrease in their overall affective well-being compared to those who interacted actively (Verduyn et al. 2015)
The speed at which information flows on social media is extremely fast, and adolescents may be bombarded with a large amount of information unconsciously, leading to cognitive overload (Ambat, 2025). Digital multitasking can impair the ability to filter out distractions, potentially leading to cognitive overload and fatigue. Long-term use of social media and constant exposure to multiple information streams can fatigue the cognitive system and make it difficult to concentrate. When cognitive resources are continually strained by competing stimuli, it may result in a subjective feeling of psychological exhaustion (Cain & Mitroff, 2011).
Characterised by simply scrolling through content without engaging in active interactions—may further intensify the negative effects of social comparison (Vogel et al., 2014) individuals who frequently engage in social comparisons on social media—especially upward comparisons (i.e., comparing oneself with people perceived as better off) (Yang, 2016). This constant exposure can lead to increased upward social comparisons, where individuals compare themselves to these idealised images. This leads to a decrease in self-worth, Negative impact on self-esteem.
Long-term passive use of social media may reduce face-to-face social opportunities, lower social skills, and increase feelings of loneliness (Keles et al., 2020). A survey of 10,000 adolescents (2020) found that 70% of respondents were more likely to avoid face-to-face social interactions after spending a long time browsing social media, and among them, 30% reported feeling uncomfortable in real-life social situations.
Conclusion
The way social media is used significantly impacts adolescents' mental health. Active use can enhance feelings of belonging and social connections, potentially reducing depression and anxiety, while passive use may increase feelings of loneliness and social anxiety. The effects of active and passive use of social networking sites on mental health were explored in this study. It was found that passive use of social networking sites may decrease emotional well-being, whereas active use can have a positive effect on mental health. Based on the two-factor model of mental health, the study examined the relationship between passive social networking site use and mental health, as well as the mediating roles of upward social comparison and friendship quality. The results indicated that passive social networking site use negatively affects adolescents' mental health through the chain-mediating roles of upward social comparison and friendship quality. These findings suggest that passive use of social networks may lower emotional well-being, while active use can produce positive outcomes. Numerous studies confirm that guiding adolescents to optimise their social media usage—such as increasing interactivity, reducing aimless browsing, and cultivating a healthy mindset towards social media—can help mitigate negative effects and support mental health development.
Future research could further investigate the long-term effects of social media use on mental health and explore effective interventions for promoting healthier online behaviours. Additionally, examining the impact of different types of content on social media could provide deeper insights into the mechanisms driving these mental health outcomes.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Acknowledgement
The authors would like to express their gratitude to all those who contributed to the writing and research of this study. The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest in the preparation of this article.
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