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@article{205751,
        author = {Dr.  Mukta Sathisha},
        title = {Effects of Social Media on Mental Health and Emotional Well-being: A Review},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {13},
        number = {1},
        pages = {8338-8342},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=205751},
        abstract = {Global communication and social interaction have changed as a result of the quick growth of social media platforms and online networking sites. Growing research indicates that excessive and compulsive social media use may have detrimental effects on mental health, despite the fact that these platforms offer many advantages, such as improved connectedness, information sharing, and social support. This review looks at the several ways that social media affects mental health. Exposure to idealized online representations, social comparison, mindless scrolling, and dependency-forming behaviours are important contributing factors. By constantly tailoring material, stimulating reward circuits in the brain, and possibly encouraging addictive behaviours, AI-driven algorithms further increase user engagement. Furthermore, social media platforms have the potential to exacerbate FOMO, skew perceptions of social connectivity, and promote the association of online validation with self-worth. Particularly among teenagers and young adults, emerging issues like excessive screen usage, compulsive scrolling, cyberbullying, online harassment, and insufficient social validation have been connected to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, social disengagement, and diminished emotional well-being. Preventative measures, digital well-being interventions, and appropriate social media habits depend on an understanding of these intricate relationships. In order to encourage healthy social media use while reducing its psychological hazards, future studies should concentrate on finding protective variables and evidence-based strategies.},
        keywords = {},
        month = {June},
        }