Bibliometric Retrospective on Social Media and Wellbeing Research Literature

Both researchers and the public have debated social media's effects on mental health since its inception, a concern mirrored in the literature. This bibliometric review analyses 1,415 publications retrieved from the Scopus database to explore the evolving landscape of research on social media and well-being. The results indicate a significant increase in publication volume, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting heightened academic interest in the psychological impacts of social media. Performance analysis also reveals a concentration of research output among leading journals, and a network of prolific authors predominantly based in the United States. Network analysis identifies collaborative patterns among authors, institutions, and countries, with a notable presence of international collaborations. The thematic analysis highlights key areas of focus, including mental health challenges, the effects of specific platforms like Facebook and Instagram, and emerging concerns such as social media addiction, and body dissatisfaction. It was also found that research areas like Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), cyberbullying, and social media fatigue remain underexplored. This study offers an overview of the current literature, and signifies the need for continued research that addresses the balance between the benefits and risks of social media use, with a focus on emergent areas of investigation.