Social media component effects: a commentary on Maheux et al. (2024)

Abstract

Maheux et al.s' annual review (2024) summarizes a rapidly evolving literature on the specific components (including content, features and functions) of social media that can help or hinder healthy adolescent development, highlighting how proposed effects of social media components appear to matter more for some adolescents than others. This commentary explores how conclusions of Maheux et al. (2024) can help shape future translational research on what components of social media may facilitate or undermine healthy adolescent development and who is most susceptible to these social media component effects. Future research must also address when and where social media components matter most, situating our understanding within temporal and physical context. Finally, the promise of future research is highlighted on why youth engage with social media components (motivations) and how specific components of social media exert their effects (mechanisms).