THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY ON MENTAL HEALTH

Social media affects almost every aspect of our lives, but it also facilitates personal communication and thinking. Recent studies have shown that social media has both negative and positive effects on youth health; However, there are some relationships that require more attention. Objective: Given the limited research on the effects of social media on mental health, this qualitative study examines the lifestyles of adolescent boys and girls to understand how social media use contributes to youth health. Method: Descriptive epistemological approach, 25 semi-structured interviews and 11 focus groups. In addition, young men and women (aged 15 to 24 years) from different ethnicities in Singapore were selected through community sampling. We determined the research objectives through inductive thematic analysis and concept mapping. Research: We found that young people are involved in many activities through social media that provide the basis for the involvement of family and friends in the global health movement. Based on participants' narratives, our analysis revealed positive sentiments (three characteristics of youth social media use that may affect the health of peers and global community, engagement with social media content, and relationships as tools). There are 5 ways to achieve good mental health: (3) Problem solving, (4) Happiness, and (5) Other mental health factors (such as stress and personal growth). Conclusion: The results highlight the important role of social media and show that it can provide today's youth with opportunities for self-expression and social support that can positively affect their lives and thereby improve youth health. The results Our research can be used to develop and improve relationships with young people digitally on social media to improve mental health.