SOCIAL MEDIA, COGNITION, AND MENTAL HEALTH

Abstract

In the contemporary digital era, social media has become an inseparable part of everyday life, particularly among adolescents and young adults. Platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have brought significant implications for human cognition and mental health. This chapter explores how social media shapes attentional processes, memory, emotional regulation, and higher-order thinking while simultaneously influencing psychological well-being. Based on interdisciplinary research from cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and public health, we examine both the benefits and documented risks of social media engagement. Topics such as social comparison, cyberbullying, fear of missing out (FOMO), dopaminergic reward cycles, and digital stress are discussed in relation to depression, anxiety, and loneliness. The chapter also considers protective factors including digital literacy, mindful usage, and supportive online communities. By addressing these issues within the framework of psychological science, this chapter offers an understanding of the complex relationship between technology, cognition, and mental well-being.