Abstract
This study examines the relationship between social media use and psychological well-being in young adults aged 18-29, focusing on platforms like Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. It investigates psychological outcomes, including depression, anxiety, stress, and self-esteem, while considering motivations for social media use, such as social comparison, agency, and self-expression. A quantitative approach was employed with 260 participants of diverse gender and ethnic-racial backgrounds. Participants completed a survey assessing their platform-specific usage, motivations, and time spent on social media, along with related psychological outcomes. Results showed that increased social media use was related to higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, and lower levels of self-esteem, although the effect sizes were small. The study also found that psychological outcomes varied by social media platform. Increased time on Instagram and TikTok was linked to higher levels of symptoms of depression and anxiety but had no significant relationship with stress or self-esteem. Twitter and Facebook usage were associated with elevated levels of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, along with lower self-esteem. No significant interactions were found between different motivations for social media use and psychological outcomes. These findings highlight the importance of conducting detailed analyses of platform-specific implications and usage to better understand their relationship with psychological well-being. Clinical implications, study limitations, and directions for future research are also discussed, emphasizing strategies to mitigate the adverse psychological impacts of social media.