Social media use was linked to poorer sleep and mental well-being
A narrative review described associations across sleep, mood and other health measures. It does not establish how much social media use contributed to those outcomes.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Daily social media use was associated with more stress, anxiety, depression and loneliness, alongside poorer sleep. The review also described lower self-esteem and life satisfaction. These patterns span several outcomes, but the abstract cannot establish that social media caused them or that every platform and pattern of use carries the same risk.
The abstract provides no pooled effect sizes, consistent exposure thresholds or detailed study designs. Its narrative summary cannot quantify individual risk or determine whether social media use preceded the reported health problems.
A wide-ranging synthesis
The authors combined studies with different designs and outcomes through narrative synthesis. Their summary covered sleep and mental health alongside physical symptoms, body image and academic performance, without providing a single combined estimate.
Platform differences need context
Instagram users reported more problematic use than Facebook users in the review's summary. The abstract does not provide enough comparative detail to explain why these user groups differed or establish a health advantage from switching platforms.
The original publication
Impact of Social Media Use on Physical, Mental, Social, and Emotional Health, Sleep Quality, Body Image, and Mood: Evidence from 21 Countries-A Systematic Literature Review with Narrative Synthesis.
Behera N, Khuntia S, Pandey K et al.
Int J Behav Med · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41283962
- Record checked
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