Information Disorder's Impact on Adolescents

The spread of information disorder on social media poses serious concerns, particularly for adolescents, affecting their cognitive growth, social interactions, and decision-making. This study analyzes trends in scholarly publications on this topic by mapping the research landscape, identifying key contributors, and highlighting emerging themes. Using a bibliometric approach with SCOPUS data and tools like VOSviewer, the study examined publication trends, citations, collaboration networks, and keyword clusters. Findings reveal a rising number of publications, with the U.S. as a major contributor. Influential works and collaborations were identified, and key themes included disinformation, media literacy, social media’s role, and the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects. Impacts on adolescents include diminished critical thinking, vulnerability to manipulation, polarization, mental health issues, and difficulty discerning credible information. The study underscores the need for digital literacy, global cooperation, and culturally sensitive strategies to empower youth and guide future research.