The Impact of Social Media on Health Behaviors, a Systematic Review
Abstract
Background: Social media has transformed and influenced how health information is accessed, how people engage in health-promoting behaviors, and how they develop attitudes toward wellness. Methods: This systematic review examines the impact of social media on various health behaviors from 2010 to 2025. Guided by the PRISMA-ScR framework, and after screening 436 articles from databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and CINAHL, 82 studies were included that were published in English, and examined Social Media’s influence on health-related behaviors. Results: Thematic synthesis revealed five dominant categories: physical activity and fitness, dietary behaviors and nutrition, mental health and wellbeing, substance use and risky behavior, and health misinformation. The platform, content exposure, and user engagement are all factors that can contribute to social media being an enabler and an obstacle to positive health behavior change. Conclusions: This review identifies key knowledge gaps, highlights emerging trends, and provides direction for future interdisciplinary research and public health strategies. This review was not registered and received no funding.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.
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