SOCIAL NETWORKS AND ANXIETY IN ADOLESCENTS: A COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the relationship between social media use and the development of anxiety symptoms in adolescents, from the perspective of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), seeking to identify patterns of thought, behavior, and coping strategies that can support preventive and therapeutic interventions for this population. To this end, this is a qualitative literature review, based on searches in the LILACS, SciELO, BVS, PePSic, and Google Scholar databases, considering publications from 2020 to 2025. Evidence indicates that excessive exposure to social media, combined with social and family pressures, significantly influences the increase in anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem among adolescents, compromising both psychological well-being and interpersonal relationships. In this context, the importance of supportive environments and the implementation of mental health promotion and prevention practices stands out. These, combined with interventions based on CBT, can favor the strengthening of resilience, emotional self-regulation, and the construction of healthier social bonds, reducing the negative impacts resulting from the inappropriate use of digital media.