Abstract
With the rapid growth of social media platforms, concerns have arisen regarding their impact on mental health. This study aimed to examine the influence of social media on depression and anxiety levels among the Qassim population in Saudi Arabia, taking into consideration the role of gender and age. This study applied a cross-sectional design, gathering data from a diverse sample. A standardized survey instrument was utilized to measure participants’ social media usage patterns, levels of depression, and anxiety symptoms. Moreover, demographic information, including gender and age, was collected to investigate potential differences across these variables. Out of 574 participants, the 92.3% were Saudi nationals. Using the PHQ-9 questionnaire, the data revealed that males had slight higher depression levels than females (p > 0.05). Depression levels were highest among participants aged 40–45 years and gradually declined among those aged 55–60 years. The data also showed that anxiety levels remained consistent regardless of increased usage of social media (p > 0.05), and similar patterns of anxiety were observed in both males and females (p > 0.05). This is the first study that reveals varying levels of depression, with the highest rates among individuals aged 40–45 years, decreasing among those aged 55–60 years. Anxiety levels were consistent regardless of increased social media usage, with similar patterns observed in both males and females.