THE IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE SOCIAL MEDIA USE ON COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS IN YOUNG PEOPLE

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the impact of excessive social media use on cognitive distortions among young individuals, following the theoretical tenets of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It was posited that intensive and prolonged exposure to digital platforms has been associated, in recent scientific literature, with the exacerbation of dysfunctional thought patterns, such as excessive social comparison, personalization, catastrophizing, and mind reading, which constitute the cognitive model proposed by Aaron Beck. Regarding methodology, this study comprised qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive bibliographic research based on a narrative review of national and international literature retrieved from recognized scientific databases. The results demonstrated that excessive social media use was consistently associated with the reinforcement of distorted cognitive patterns, the intensification of upward social comparison, and an increase in anxiety and depressive symptoms among youth-aspects that directly aligned with the conceptual framework of CBT. It was concluded that understanding this interaction is relevant for both prevention and clinical intervention, particularly regarding the identification and cognitive restructuring of cognitive distortions associated with digital behavior, thereby reinforcing the applicability of CBT as an effective approach for managing the psychological impacts arising from problematic social media use.