Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

@article{190377,
        author = {Vishva D. Lashkari and Prof. Dr. Alkaben J. Macwan},
        title = {Impact of Social Media on the Social and Emotional Development of Adolescents: An Educational Perspective},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {8},
        pages = {5823-5835},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=190377},
        abstract = {In the contemporary digital era, social media has emerged as a powerful socialising agent, particularly influencing the lives of adolescents. Adolescence is a crucial developmental stage marked by significant social and emotional changes, and excessive or unguided engagement with social media platforms has raised concerns regarding adolescents’ social relationships, emotional regulation, self-esteem, and overall well-being. The present paper aims to examine the impact of social media on the social and emotional development of adolescents from an educational perspective. The study is conceptual and analytical in nature and is based on a critical review of existing national and international literature related to social media use, adolescent development, and social-emotional outcomes. The reviewed studies indicate that while social media provides opportunities for social connectivity, self-expression, and emotional support, it also poses risks such as social comparison, cyberbullying, emotional dependency, anxiety, and reduced face-to-face interaction. The paper highlights the role of education as a moderating and guiding force in promoting healthy and responsible social media usage among adolescents. It emphasises the need for integrating digital literacy and social-emotional learning within the educational framework to support balanced social and emotional development. The study contributes to social sciences research by offering educational insights for enhancing adolescents’ digital well-being.},
        keywords = {Social Media; Adolescents; Social Development; Emotional Development; Educational Perspective; Social Sciences},
        month = {January},
        }