Abstract

Social media addiction has emerged as a significant public health concern, particularly among students, due to its increasing impact on mental health and psychosocial well-being. This paper examines social media addiction and its effects on student mental health from a counselling and psychological perspective. The study adopts a systematic literature review methodology, drawing on recent scholarly works (2021–2026) sourced from Scopus-indexed databases, PubMed, Google Scholar, and African journals. Findings reveal that excessive social media use is associated with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, poor academic performance, and disrupted sleep patterns among students. Counsellors play critical roles in addressing these challenges through psychoeducation, cognitive-behavioural interventions, emotional regulation training, and digital wellness advocacy. Psychological frameworks such as Cognitive Behavioural Theory, Social Comparison Theory, and Behavioural Addiction Models provide insights into the mechanisms underlying social media addiction and its psychological consequences. In the Nigerian context, increased smartphone penetration, limited digital literacy, and lack of structured mental health support systems exacerbate the impact of social media addiction on students. However, counsellors are strategically positioned to mitigate these effects through school-based interventions, awareness programs, and culturally responsive counselling strategies. The study concludes that integrating counselling services into educational systems and promoting responsible digital behaviour are essential for improving student mental health outcomes. It recommends curriculum reforms, policy support, and continuous mental health education to address the growing challenge of social media addiction. Overall, the paper highlights the importance of counselling interventions in promoting psychological well-being among students in the digital age