International Journal of
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Short Communication Volume 10 Issue 4
Prolonged social media use, loneliness, and psychological distress in adolescence: a necessary reflection
Serafyn Sampaio Mendes, Lindisley Ferreira Gomides, Célio Souto Gomes
Received: July 17, 2026 | Published: August 13, 2026
Citation: Mendes SS, Gomides LF, Gomes CS. Prolonged social media use, loneliness, and psychological distress in adolescence: a necessary reflection. Int J Fam Commun Med. 2026;10(4):115-118. DOI: 10.15406/ijfcm.2026.10.00425
Abstract
Prolonged social media use has been linked to increased psychological distress among adolescents, with the experience of loneliness acting as a key mediating factor in this relationship. This study aims to reflect on the connections between prolonged social media use, loneliness, and psychological distress during adolescence by integrating psychosocial and neurobiological evidence. It is a reflective literature review based on cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, meta-analyses, and neuroimaging research published in both national and international literature. Findings indicate a bidirectional relationship between loneliness and compulsive platform use, creating a feedback loop associated with outcomes such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and in severe cases suicidal ideation. Neuroscientific evidence suggests that the digital environment affects brain regions associated with social reward and behavioral control, rendering adolescents particularly vulnerable. The study concludes that interventions focused solely on reducing screen time tend to have limited effectiveness; instead, integrated approaches are required to promote quality social bonds, emotional regulation, sleep hygiene, and psychoeducation regarding the functioning of digital platforms.
Keywords: social media, adolescence, loneliness, psychological distress, mental health
©2026 Mendes, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.