Mental Health in the Digital Age: Consequences of Excessive Social Media Use on Self-Esteem

The rapid expansion of digital technologies has transformed social interaction, self-presentation, and identity construction. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter have become integral to daily communication, offering unprecedented access to global communities and user-generated content. However, excessive and uncritical use of these platforms has raised concerns regarding their psychological impact—particularly their influence on self-esteem and broader mental health outcomes. This review aims to critically synthesize current research on the consequences of excessive social media use for self-esteem and associated mental health conditions. It explores theoretical frameworks explaining these effects, examines the mechanisms driving self-esteem erosion, and identifies demographic, psychological, and social factors that moderate or mediate these relationships. This is a narrative review drawing on peer-reviewed studies from psychology, sociology, and communication science. Sources were identified through database searches (e.g., PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus) using combinations of keywords such as “social media,” “self-esteem,” “social comparison,” “body image,” “mental health,” and “digital addiction.” Inclusion criteria focused on empirical studies published within the last ۱۵ years that explicitly addressed the psychological outcomes of heavy social media use. Key theoretical models, such as Social Comparison Theory, Sociometer Theory, and the Online Disinhibition Effect, were integrated to frame findings. Evidence consistently links excessive social media engagement to lower self-esteem, particularly through mechanisms such as upward social comparison, dependence on quantifiable online validation, and exposure to idealized images promoting unrealistic beauty or lifestyle standards. These effects are amplified among adolescents, women, and individuals with high neuroticism, while moderated by strong offline support networks, higher digital literacy, and problem-focused coping strategies. Beyond self-esteem, heavy use correlates with increased risk of anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, fear of missing out (FOMO), cognitive overload, and cyberbullying exposure. Excessive social media use can undermine self-esteem and contribute to broader mental health problems, though the severity and form of these consequences vary across individuals and contexts.

Keywords:

Digital mental health , social media , Self-esteem , Artificial intelligence , Therapeutic interventions