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The Use of Social Networking Sites and Its Impact on Adolescents’ Emotional Well-Being: a Scoping Review

  • Internet Use Disorders (H-J Rumpf and J Billieux, Section Editors)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The rapid development of social networking sites (SNSs) has affected adolescents’ well-being with great impact on social experience. In this scoping review, we aimed to map out what is known from the most recent literature about adolescents’ emotional well-being and the role of emotional regulation skills in preventing problematic SNS use. We used the Arksey and O’Malley methodological framework, and we based the study selection procedure on the PRISMA process. Then, we selected 52 English and peer-reviewed papers from PubMed, MEDLINE, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, Wiley Online Library, and Web of Science.

Recent Findings

We found both positive and negative effects of SNS use on adolescents’ emotions with online self-presentation and social comparison as key mechanisms to explain differences in subjective well-being. The risk of developing problematic use of SNSs is influenced by time spent on SNSs, active or passive use, and adolescents’ social and emotional skills.

Summary

This review suggested the importance of emotional experiences and social support in both in-person and online interactions. Future research is needed to provide the basis for a better forthcoming classification of problematic SNS use.

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  1. Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University of Enna “Kore”, Cittadella Universitaria, 94100, Enna, Italy

    Rossella Bottaro & Palmira Faraci

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  1. Rossella Bottaro
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  2. Palmira Faraci
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Correspondence to Rossella Bottaro.

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Bottaro, R., Faraci, P. The Use of Social Networking Sites and Its Impact on Adolescents’ Emotional Well-Being: a Scoping Review. Curr Addict Rep 9, 518–539 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-022-00445-4

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