SOCIAL MEDIA AND EMOTIONAL MANIPULATION: EMERGING MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS IN INDIA

Abstract

This chapter explores the intricate relationship between social media use and emotional manipulation within the context of India’s rapidly digitizing society. It examines how digital platformsthrough algorithmic design, social validation cycles, and performative self-expressionshape emotional regulation, self-concept, and mental health outcomes. Drawing upon contemporary psychological and socio-cultural research, the discussion identifies how factors such as collectivist cultural values, youth digital dependence, and mental health stigma contribute to unique patterns of emotional vulnerability among Indian users. The chapter emphasizes that while social media fosters connection and empowerment, it simultaneously cultivates psychological dependency, anxiety, and depressive tendencies through constant exposure to manipulative emotional stimuli. It concludes by advocating for culturally grounded strategies that integrate digital literacy, mental health awareness, and emotional resilience to mitigate the psychological impact of online environments in India.