A Double-Edged Sword Perspective on Young Australians' Use of Social Media: A Structured Narrative Review

IF 1.5 4区医学 Q3 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Health Promotion Journal of Australia Pub Date : 2025-09-10 DOI:10.1002/hpja.70093

Nasim Salehi, Georgia Rose Marshall, Mohammad Hossein Maziarfar, Alice Zubrinich, Nazanin Madani, Mansoureh Nickbakht, Ahmed A. Moustafa

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Abstract

Issue Addressed

Social media's potential use has been underestimated in preventive interventions targeting young people despite its importance in psychosocial development. This structured narrative review examined both the positive and negative use of social media by young Australians and its health impacts with a focus on social media-based interventions.

Method

Following a narrative review approach, 34 papers were analysed from four databases (Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Embase) from 2010 to 2025 to provide indications for leveraging the positive aspects. Thematic analysis was used for analysing data.

Results

Three key themes emerged as outcomes of young Australians' social media use: (1) the engagement paradox; (2) motivations for social media use (information seeking, identity exploration and social connections); and (3) social media interventions. The positive use of social media by young Australians included using social media for information seeking, social connection and support, as well as finding identity and positive relationships. The negative use of social media included engagement and exposure to harmful content (e.g., substance use), addictive and distractive use of social media, and engaging with body image content. Although a few social media interventions were found, they were identified to be effective through facilitating peer support groups and online discussions on difficult topics.

Conclusion

Understanding the dual impact and use of social media by young Australians will help policymakers and researchers develop interventions that empower young people to effectively navigate social media and maximise its benefits for health and wellbeing. These findings highlight the importance of balancing the benefits and risks of social media. Interventions should focus on fostering safe online spaces and developing resources to address the social and informational needs of young individuals.

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澳大利亚年轻人使用社交媒体的双刃剑视角：一个结构化的叙事回顾。

所处理的问题：社交媒体在针对年轻人的预防性干预措施中的潜在用途被低估了，尽管它在心理社会发展中很重要。这一结构化的叙述审查审查了澳大利亚年轻人对社交媒体的积极和消极使用及其对健康的影响，重点是基于社交媒体的干预措施。方法：采用叙述性综述的方法，对2010年至2025年Medline、PsycINFO、CINAHL和Embase四个数据库中的34篇论文进行分析，以提供利用积极方面的提示。数据分析采用专题分析。结果：澳大利亚年轻人使用社交媒体的结果出现了三个关键主题：(1)参与悖论；(2)使用社交媒体的动机（信息寻求、身份探索和社会联系）；(3)社交媒体干预。澳大利亚年轻人对社交媒体的积极使用包括使用社交媒体寻求信息、社会联系和支持，以及寻找身份和积极的关系。社交媒体的负面使用包括参与和接触有害内容（例如，物质使用），社交媒体的成瘾和分散使用，以及参与身体形象内容。虽然发现了一些社交媒体干预措施，但通过促进同伴支持小组和在线讨论困难话题，它们被认为是有效的。结论：了解澳大利亚年轻人对社交媒体的双重影响和使用将有助于政策制定者和研究人员制定干预措施，使年轻人能够有效地驾驭社交媒体，并最大限度地提高其对健康和福祉的益处。这些发现强调了平衡社交媒体的好处和风险的重要性。干预措施应侧重于营造安全的网络空间和开发资源，以满足年轻人的社会和信息需求。

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来源期刊

Health Promotion Journal of Australia PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH-

CiteScore

3.10

自引率

10.50%

发文量

115

期刊介绍： The purpose of the Health Promotion Journal of Australia is to facilitate communication between researchers, practitioners, and policymakers involved in health promotion activities. Preference for publication is given to practical examples of policies, theories, strategies and programs which utilise educational, organisational, economic and/or environmental approaches to health promotion. The journal also publishes brief reports discussing programs, professional viewpoints, and guidelines for practice or evaluation methodology. The journal features articles, brief reports, editorials, perspectives, "of interest", viewpoints, book reviews and letters.