Youth and Digital Habits- The Consequences of Screen time on Mental Health and Social Well-being: A Review

With the rapid advancement of digital technology, excessive screen time has emerged as a pervasive issue, significantly impacting individuals’ health, relationships, productivity and overall development. While moderate and mindful use of digital devices can enhance well-being, excessive screen engagement is associated with numerous negative mental health outcomes, such as psychological distress, decreased emotional stability and a heightened risk of depression and anxiety. Issues often arise when digital usage becomes impulsive, compulsive, or addictive, disrupting critical aspects of mental and physical health, including sleep patterns, physical activity and emotional resilience. Although digital communication offers convenience, it frequently lacks the emotional richness of face-to-face interactions, contributing to feelings of isolation and disconnection. Excessive consumption of online content, especially via social media, exacerbates negative self-comparisons, fosters unrealistic expectations and distorts perceptions of reality. Adolescents and young adults are particularly vulnerable due to their developmental need for genuine social connections and greater exposure to digital environments. Research indicated that adolescent girls and young women are more prone than their male counterparts to extensive social media use, face increased risks of cyber bullying and experience significant mental health challenges. These trends correlate with recent epidemiological findings, which highlighted that young females are especially susceptible to elevated symptoms of depression, self-harming behaviors and suicidal thoughts. Addressing the adverse effects of excessive screen time involved strategies such as parenting interventions, public health campaigns and school policies that regulate screen use. Encouraging young people to monitor and moderate their screen time is crucial for raising awareness of their usage habits and their impacts.