The Impact of Social Media on Gen Z's Mental Health and Privacy

Over the last decade, the ever-growing increase in social media usage among Generation Z has significantly influenced their behavior and mental health. In this context, the present study investigates the relationship among extensive social media use, psychological disorders, and privacy concerns in this generation. Using a structural equation model (PLS-SEM), we examine the relationships variables such as information overload, online reputation, social media fatigue, psychological disorders, and privacy concerns. One of our key findings is a positive correlation between information overload and social media fatigue, which highlight the cognitive burden of excessive digital information. Interestingly, our results do not show that open researchability significantly contributes to social media fatigue, suggesting effective information management by users. Furthermore, we find that addictive flow and online self-reputation concerns are positively associated with social media fatigue, suggesting that intense engagement and image management can be exhausting. This fatigue significantly escalates into psychological disorders, underlining the profound mental health implications of social media use. Moreover, the impact of psychological disorders and privacy concerns on the reduced intention to use social media observed in the data highlights a growing self-awareness and regulatory behavior among Generation Z. Collectively, the results of the present study offer meaningful insights for mental health professionals and social media platform designers, emphasizing the need for healthier online environments and strategies to promote digital well-being.