Keywords
Abstract
This research examines the chronological social media engagement behaviours in relation to the psychological frame of mind of adolescents and young adults aged 14 to 24 years old. Using a mixed-methods approach with 1,824 subjects, objective social media participation was measured via a digital tracker, while isolation and depressive symptoms were measured using recognised clinical tools. The results uncovered intricate curvilinear relationships that defy the linear simplifications dominantly used in prior research. We also found an inverted U-shaped relationship in social media usage and reported loneliness. The key inflection point for social media usage is around 4.3 hours (258 minutes). Psychological distress, predominantly depression, marked a sharp increase beyond this threshold. Session frequency had stronger relationships yielding distress, surpassing 63 checking episodes significantly heightened distress. Passive viewing as a low engagement form of participation proved distressing and monotonically increasing, while active engagement displayed more intricate relationships. Age (with younger adolescents showing more vulnerability), social support (providing buffering effects that mitigated the harm), and social media literacy (buffering the negative impacts) were among others moderating these relationships. Text-oriented or connection-based platforms were less associated with distress than image-centred platforms. Digital wellness guidelines incorporating these findings can counter oversimplified approaches based on screen time alone.