Innovating Social-Emotional Learning to Enhance Positive Engagement of Youth With Social Media: A Comprehensive Review of Why and How.

The rising mental health burden among youth, exacerbated by excessive social media use and other risks associated with digital engagement, necessitates urgent and innovative preventive solutions. The existing research supports the notion that smartphones and social media significantly impact youth mental health, advocating for age restrictions to mitigate worsening psychological distress in the young.This comprehensive narrative literature review synthesizes research on the dual role of social media in shaping well-being among youth and explores how social-emotional learning (SEL) programs can be adapted to encourage a healthy relationship with digital platforms. Innovating SEL programs by incorporating educational techniques such as Problem-Based Learning, Inquiry-Based Learning, and Project-Based Learning inculcates real-world problem-solving and holds significant promise for fostering self-realization and self-regulation among the youth. By inculcating skills related to mindful technology use within SEL programs, students can learn to navigate social media and other technology related risk factors in a way that supports their mental health and overall well-being. The goal is to empower students to make informed decisions about technology and social media use, understand its effects on their mood and mental state, and practice techniques that contribute to a healthier, more balanced digital life. This holistic approach not only mitigates the risks associated with digital overuse but also leverages technology as a tool for enhancing personal and social development. Well-designed, innovative programs backed by thorough feasibility studies can help cultivate a generation of emotionally intelligent, resilient, and adaptive learners who can thrive in an increasingly complex digital landscape. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to assess the long-term effects of these SEL innovations and develop scalable models that can be implemented across various educational settings.