What is the relationship between the internet/social media use and depression among adolescents – a scoping review

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Abstract: The exponential increase in the use of social media among adolescents raised severe concerns about the impact of social media on mental health. However, the scope of evidence is massive. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore the available evidence, which will provide valuable guidance to researchers conducting primary research as they will be aware of the scope of evidence, the methodological gaps, and unanswered questions. Therefore, this scoping review sought to explore the scope of evidence and identify gaps, and the methodological limitations of the available evidence. Studies were eligible if they examined the relationship between social media use and depression among adolescents. Studies with a cohort, cross-sectional and longitudinal, and randomised controlled design were included, whereas editorials and case-control studies were excluded as they have low quality. Following a search in several databases, 27 studies were included. Findings showed that there is an endless cycle between depression, loneliness, and excessive social media use. Also, the impact of social media on mental health depends on how social media is used (positive vs negative uses). For example, it may be used for social comparison and may increase the risk of bullying, but social support can also be provided through social media. There were several gaps, such as the need for studies with objective measures, studies with a qualitative design and longitudinal design with long follow-up and several waves, and the need for studies with a cohort design, and taking the core outcome sets into consideration. In addition, it is necessary to consider the complexity of social media use and conduct studies with each platform individually. In addition, researchers should adhere to the reporting guidelines and develop more objective measures for measuring social media use. In conclusion, this scoping review showed that the impact of social media on mental health is affected by its use. However, there was a consensus that excessive use of social media may increase loneliness and depression. Researchers should address the limitations of the available literature.

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