Navigating Social Media: Balancing Connectivity With Media Literacy to Combat Misinformation and Protect Mental Well-Being.

In 30 seconds

This systematic review examines the relationship between social media use, misinformation, and mental health impacts, particularly psychiatric misinformation. Analyzing 86 studies, it finds that social media's design fosters misinformation and psychological distress, necessitating a critical digital literacy framework to enhance user resilience against these threats.

Key findings

• Algorithmic curation and engagement metrics on social media contribute to misinformation spread and psychological distress.
• Psychiatric misinformation, including inaccurate treatment claims, is particularly prevalent on image- and video-based platforms.
• Conventional media literacy approaches are inadequate; a critical digital literacy framework is essential for user resilience.
• High-quality systematic reviews support the need for algorithmic awareness and emotional literacy in combating misinformation.

Why it matters

Understanding the interplay between social media, misinformation, and mental health is crucial for clinicians. Enhanced media literacy can empower patients to navigate digital content more effectively, potentially improving their mental well-being.