Abstract: This paper examines the paradoxical influence of social media use among college students aged 18–24, a demographic that represents both the most digitally active and the most psychologically vulnerable population segment. The purpose of this study is to investigate how different patterns of social media engagement shape emotional and social outcomes among young adults. The research integrates findings from fifteen peer-reviewed studies published between 2020 and 2025 with preliminary quantitative data collected from 30 college students through....
Key Words: Social media, college students, social connection, isolation, addiction, loneliness, FoMO, digital well-being, passive use, active use, mental health
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