Abstract: Social media platforms have become integral to modern life, shaping how individuals communicate, form relationships, and access information. While these technologies offer substantial benefits—including enhanced connectivity, social support, and informational exchange—numerous studies link social media use with negative mental health outcomes such as anxiety, depression, addiction, and emotional distress. Simultaneously, ethical concerns arise surrounding how researchers collect, analyze, and interpret social media data, particularly regarding privacy and informed consent. This paper examines the dual dimensions of social media’s impact on mental health and the ethical considerations pivotal to responsible research and data use. The discussion synthesizes empirical findings, highlights ethical challenges in data collection and algorithmic inference, and proposes best practices to uphold integrity and minimize harm.