Article Abstract

This study examines the impact of social networking site (SNS) usage on the mental health of teenagers aged 13 to 16 in North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal. Using a quantitative survey design, data were collected from 100 students equally divided by gender and residence (urban and rural). The Social Networking Sites Scale and the Mental Health Inventory were used to measure SNS usage and mental health status, respectively. Independent samples t-tests analyzed differences in mental health and SNS usage across groups. Results show a significant difference in mental health between high and low SNS users, with high users reporting poorer mental well-being. This suggests that excessive social media use may increase emotional distress due to factors such as cyberbullying, social comparison, and disrupted sleep. However, no significant differences were found in SNS usage or mental health based on gender or residence, indicating that these factors do not influence teenagers’ social media behaviour or psychological outcomes in this sample. The findings highlight the need for balanced social media use among adolescents and stress the importance of parental guidance, digital literacy, and mental health support in schools. Overall, while social media offers important opportunities for communication and expression, its overuse can negatively affect teenagers’ mental health, calling for targeted interventions to promote responsible digital habits.
Keywords: Digital Media Usage, Psychological Well-being, Social Networking Sites Usage, Teenagers’ Mental Health