The Impact of Social Media Use on Adolescent Mental Health: The Mediating Role of FOMO

Qihan Tan

doi:10.54254/2753-7064/2025.LC24847

Communications in Humanities ResearchOpen access

The Impact of Social Media Use on Adolescent Mental Health: The Mediating Role of FOMO

Research Article

Open Access

The Impact of Social Media Use on Adolescent Mental Health: The Mediating Role of FOMO

Qihan Tan ^1*

¹ Tianjin University of Finance and Economics Pearl River College

^*Corresponding author: tqh5114@outlook.com

Published on 11 July 2025

CHR Vol.72

ISSN (Print): 2753-7072

ISSN (Online): 2753-7064

ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-225-6

ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-226-3

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Abstract

As the penetration rate of social media among teenagers continues to rise (with global teenage users accounting for 87%), its potential impact on mental health has become a focal point of academic and societal attention. As "digital natives," teenagers are frequently exposed to the virtual social environments constructed by social media, leading to psychological issues such as depression and anxiety that urgently require in-depth analysis. This study focuses on "fear of missing out" (FOMO) as a core mediating variable, systematically integrating over 30 empirical studies from both domestic and international sources over the past five years. Using bibliometric and meta-analysis methods, it explores the dynamic association mechanisms between social media usage frequency, usage motives (active socializing vs. passive browsing), and adolescent mental health. The findings indicate that the impact of social media on adolescent mental health is context-dependent, with FOMO serving as the core link between behavioral patterns and psychological states. Future research should combine longitudinal tracking and neuroscientific techniques to further reveal differences in the effects of various platforms, and develop precise intervention strategies from dimensions such as digital literacy education in schools and the development of technology warning functions, to help adolescents balance virtual social interactions with real life.

Keywords:

Social media use, adolescent mental health, fear of missing out, FOMO, empirical research

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References

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References

[5]. Anderson, J. E. and Jiang, Y. (2021) The relationship between social media use and depression in adolescents: The mediating role of fear of missing out. Computers in Human Behavior, 121, 106146.

[7]. Tanhan, F. , Özok, H. I. , & Tayiz, V. (2022). Fear of missing out (FoMO): A current review. Psikiyatride Guncel Yaklasimlar, 14(1), 74-85.

Cite this article

Tan,Q. (2025). The Impact of Social Media Use on Adolescent Mental Health: The Mediating Role of FOMO. Communications in Humanities Research,72,68-74.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICADSS 2025 Symposium: Art, Identity, and Society: Interdisciplinary Dialogues

ISBN: 978-1-80590-225-6(Print) / 978-1-80590-226-3(Online)

Editor: Ioannis Panagiotou, Yanhua Qin

Conference website: https://www.icadss.org/Lincoln.html

Conference date: 22 August 2025

Series: Communications in Humanities Research

Volume number: Vol.72

ISSN: 2753-7064(Print) / 2753-7072(Online)

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