Social media has complex effects on adolescent wellbeing, and policymakers must take note

In late 2024, more than 20 years after the birth of Facebook, the impact of social media on our lives cannot be overstated. Initially underestimated by many in business, social media eventually came to be recognised for its power to enable workers to share solutions, ideas and perspectives. While companies took time to see its potential, younger generations have been living part of their lives through social platforms for years. A 2023 Pew Research Center survey reveals that a majority of US youth aged 13 to 17 visit YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat at least “about once a day”, with roughly 15% saying they visit these platforms “almost constantly”.

This widespread use of social media has brought with it an increased focus on its effects on young people, particularly adolescents. While many studies share evidence of the negative impacts of social media use on adolescent well-being, the research we reviewed also showed conflicting findings and a dearth of high-quality research designs.

In response to this, researchers HEC Paris Business School recently published a paper focusing on the most rigorous studies on this topic. The results of this review show that social media’s effects on adolescent wellbeing are complex, varying by age, gender and the type of platform use.

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