Social Media, Social Pressure and Substance Use: Examining Mediating and Moderating Effects On 15–16-Year-Old Adolescents in Northern Cyprus

Abstract

This study examined the relationships between social media use, social pressure (peer pressure), and substance use among 15-16-year-old adolescents living in Northern Cyprus. Social media has the potential to increase risky behaviors in adolescents. The study was conducted with 3,860 high school students. The ESPAD scale was employed, and variables included social media time, substance use, social pressure, and family support. The study findings indicated that social pressure partially mediated adolescent alcohol and cigarette use, with peer pressure and time spent on social media increasing alcohol and cigarette use. However, this relationship was not observed for cannabis use. An unexpectedly negative relationship emerged between social media time and social pressure for cigarette use. The study demonstrated a strong protective effect of family support. The relationship between social media use and social pressure weakens in adolescents with high family support. Those with low family support, on the other hand, prioritize peer approval and become more vulnerable to social media influences. The impact of social pressure is particularly striking in alcohol use and heavy drinking. Social pressure demonstrated both the mediating and moderating effects of family support. Findings suggest that social media shapes adolescents' social worlds, but the risks of this world can be mitigated with family support. Ultimately, the relationships between social media use and substance use in adolescents are shaped by complex social and digital interactions. Preventive strategies should strengthen family support and foster social media literacy, resistance to peer pressure, and life skills. Educators, families, and policymakers should develop holistic approaches that balance the opportunities and risks of the digital age.

Keywords: Social mediapeer pressuresubstance usefamily supportadolescents

Introduction

Adolescents frequently use social media in the digital age. This is widespread worldwide, with most young people using their smartphones almost daily (Chan et al., 2023). In Europe, 15-16-year-old students were asked about their social media use, and according to their self-assessment results, reported use as "problematic" (Boer et al., 2020). The effects of social media on adolescent development are frequently discussed in the literature. It is noted that it has both positive (communication, support networks) and negative aspects. It was observed that as time spent on social media increases, the risk of adolescents engaging in negative behaviors increases (Vannucci et al., 2020). Research on adolescents' social media habits and their relationship to substance use in a Northern Cyprus sample is limited (Güneyli et al., 2022). The present study is expected to fill this gap by addressing the role of social factors in the social media-substance use relationship. Substance use is a significant public health problem for adolescents, like problematic use in all age groups. This issue is significant in Northern Cyprus and globally. Substance use (e.g., alcohol, cigarettes, and cannabis) is particularly strongly influenced by social factors during adolescence. Adolescents are influenced by their peers to experiment with and use substances (Watts et al., 2024). ESPAD results indicate that adolescent substance use decreased in recent years in some developed countries. However, they also highlight the emergence of new risk factors. The most significant of these risk factors are digital media and social media platforms (Molinaro et al., 2020). Social media is a significant medium that shapes adolescents' social lives and is at the very core of their daily lives. Social media has the potential or power to affect all of adolescents' social skills, from friendships to identity development (Pérez-Torres, 2024). Therefore, this study considered the impact of social media on substance use, one of the risky behaviors among adolescents, a worthy topic of investigation. Some research findings highlight the influence of social media and peers on substance use. Adolescents who see a peer's social media posts can be significantly influenced. Nesi et al. (2017) found that adolescents who see their friends' social media posts about alcohol use are more likely to try alcohol themselves and engage in binge drinking within a year. This effect is explained by peers' approving views of substances (injunctive norms). Adolescents who see content about drugs or alcohol on social media may be tempted to use substances on the same day. It was suggested that the likelihood of substance use may increase 20-fold due to social media (Li et al., 2025). Social media is a crucial environment that can pave the way for substance use through peer interaction. Social media is a platform that can normalize harmful behaviors like substance use, and this is its most negative aspect. In many media outlets (such as social media and TV), smoking, alcohol, and drugs are presented as a normal part of daily life. Famous people and influencers can portray substance use as glamorous behaviour (Vassey et al., 2025). In adolescents, substance use can be perceived as something "everyone else does" or "cool." According to Social Norms Theory, individuals' behaviors are explained by their environment. The approval and prevalence of behaviors in their environment influence adolescents' perceptions (Amialchuk et al., 2019; Henneberger et al., 2021). Adolescents may observe that their peers or those around them view smoking or drinking alcohol favorably. They may even experience people trying these substances. In this situation, they may be inclined to embrace substance use themselves. Social media environments became a powerful influence on adolescents in the formation of such normative perceptions. For example, a teenager who watches entertaining videos of their peers drinking or smoking on TikTok may develop descriptive norms like, "Many of my friends my age smoke." Furthermore, they may begin to view substance use as harmless. The likes and comments on social media posts about alcohol or cigarette use are also crucial. This creates the perception that these negative behaviors are approved by their peers (an injunctive norm) (Montes et al., 2023). Social media interactions can influence adolescents' norms and attitudes toward substance use and should be taken seriously. Based on the developmental characteristics of adolescents, social pressure appears to be highly influential in inducing negative behaviors. Peer pressure, a form of social pressure, is an individual's attempt to conform to the expectations and behaviors of their peers. It is the direct or indirect pressure felt during this effort (Libisch et al., 2022). When researching substance use, it appears that "peer influence" is a significant risk factor. Adolescents with friends who use substances are more likely to experiment with these substances. Having a friend who smokes or drinks alcohol significantly increases the likelihood of starting and smoking cigarettes. Adolescents' desire to fit in or be accepted by the group appears to increase substance use (Henneberger et al., 2021). According to Social Learning Theory, substance use is a learned behavior (Bandura & Walters, 1977). It is argued that adolescents can model substance use behavior by observing family or peers. Especially when they observe substance use by significant others (such as parents, friends, influencers), adolescents come to view this behavior as normal and imitable. Today, social media is seen as a new dimension of peer pressure. Peer pressure was limited in the past to face-to-face interaction. However, social media allows adolescents to monitor the lives of their peers 24/7. Adolescents interact with their peers and shape their own social standing. If an adolescent witnesses their friends regularly smoking cigarettes on social media, they may feel pressured to participate, even if indirectly. In other words, the "fear of falling behind" (FOMO) can drive adolescents to follow their peers' lead (Wang, 2025). Latané (1981) defines the state of influence in his Social Impact Theory. The number of people, the person's closeness, and the person's importance to the individual strengthen the state of influence. For example, if hundreds of followers on social media normalize the use of e-cigarettes, the social influence on the individual increases. Likes and comments on social media are also quite important, leading to the immediate evaluation of many behaviors. On social media, adolescents may engage in popular behaviors (such as substance use) to gain visibility and approval (Adekeye et al., 2025). According to research findings by Marziali et al. (2022), adolescent substance use is primarily a social behavior. This social behavior is fueled by adolescents imitating their peers. Risky behaviors can be exhibited on social media to gain peer approval. It's important to understand that social media use doesn't automatically lead all adolescents to substance use. Preventive guidance can positively impact adolescents' experiences on digital platforms (Liu et al., 2023). The protective effects of family and school can enable adolescents to experience digital environments more consciously. Family support is particularly key in helping adolescents cope with peer pressure on social media. Adolescents who receive family support, have conscious family supervision, and have strong bonds with their parents may be more resilient on social media. They may be more resistant to harmful suggestions from their peers. Adolescents with a positive relationship with their parents won't experiment with or smoke cigarettes simply because their friends want them to. They value their family's values and approval. If parents in a family take a clear stance against substance use, this can be effective. Adolescents raised in families with established disciplinary rules appear less likely to succumb to peer pressure to use substances. In short, parental supervision, control, and monitoring are crucial (Asiyanbi et al., 2025). Adolescents with a healthy and supportive family environment are much better able to manage the peer pressure they may encounter on social media and in real life. Children of families who know their adolescents' friends, where they go, and what they do are safer. A child from a family that sets reasonable limits knows how to cope, even when pressured to use substances from peers. However, it's important to note that there are some risky family structures. Adolescents in single-parent or divorced families are at a higher risk (Stritzel et al., 2022). This study examined the relationship between social media use, social pressure (peer pressure), and substance use in Northern Cyprus. Northern Cyprus is a place with high access to technology among adolescents. Furthermore, it has a strong social structure with strong family and community ties (Bekiroğulları, 2024; Bekiroğulları & Tremeşeli, 2023). This unique context provides a suitable environment to examine the interaction between the effects of social media and family factors. The primary objective of the study is to reveal how social media usage time directly and indirectly (through social pressure) influences adolescents' use of substances such as cigarettes, alcohol, and cannabis. Additionally, the moderating effect of family support on the relationship between social media use and social pressure is examined. The research findings are expected to contribute new data to the literature on social media and peer influences, specifically in Northern Cyprus.

Literature Review

The literature on social media and its effects on human health grew increasingly in recent years. The effects of social media use on adolescents' psychosocial well-being and behavior (Sala et al., 2024) and on addictive substance use were investigated. There is a strong relationship between time on social media and substance use. Adolescents who frequently are on social media are much more likely to use alcohol, illicit substances, and tobacco than those who rarely use social media (Rutherford et al., 2023). People who see risky behaviors, such as alcohol advertising or unhealthy eating habits, on social media are particularly likely to start drinking more alcohol and developing poor eating habits. The literature emphasizes that social media platforms reinforce various risky behaviors, including substance use (Purba et al., 2023). However, the relationship between social media and substance use remains unclear. It is emphasized that future research should determine which features of social media are harmful. The relationship between social media and substance use is explained through the concepts of social influence and learning. According to Bandura and Walters’ (1977) Social Learning Theory, adolescents may imitate the substance use behaviors and consequences of those around them through observation or identify with and model themselves on substance users. This can be done in a physical setting or online. Recently, it was observed that adolescents, particularly those who observe e-cigarette use on social media, learned to use e-cigarettes as a harmless and socially acceptable pastime (Thoonen & Jongenelis, 2023). Substance use experiences shared on social media can be seen as a showcase. These showcased images encourage modelling of substance use. Adolescents who observe an individual using substances gaining popularity, having fun, and experiencing no negative consequences on social media may be willing to try this behavior (Geusens et al., 2024). Social Impact Theory focuses on the quantitative and qualitative aspects of social interactions. It explains the extent to which a group or individual influences others. Latané (1981) proposed that social influence has three components: power, proximity, and quantity. Power refers to the influencer's importance and credibility. Proximity is physical or psychological, while quantity refers to the number of people influenced. Considered in the context of adolescent substance use, an adolescents' close group of friends or online influencers play a significant role, as adolescents value their opinions and behaviors. By connecting large numbers of people, social media makes the opinions and behaviors of many people visible simultaneously. The number of people affected by influencers increases dramatically. With instant notifications, messaging, and constant online presence, social media creates a sense of constant proximity. For example, teenagers who are not present at a party may still be influenced by images of drinking shared on Instagram and may feel psychologically drawn to that environment. According to social influence theory, the multitude, prominence and proximity of influencers on social media platforms significantly increases the likelihood of adolescents conforming. Peer behavior on social media may be more stimulating than traditional face-to-face environments (Mendonça et al., 2025). Social media becomes an environment that reinforces peer pressure. The Social Norms Approach (Berkowitz, 2003) offers a theory for understanding adolescent substance use behavior. According to this theory, individuals adjust their behaviors based on perceived norms. We shape our lives and behaviors based on what others do and deem appropriate. Substance use behaviors can be interpreted based on descriptive and prescriptive norms, which are key concepts in this theory. Descriptive norms are the perception of how prevalent substance use is in the environment. Prescriptive norms, on the other hand, relate to whether the environment approves of substance use. Social media provides data on both descriptive and prescriptive norms in adolescent substance use. If an adolescent sees that 70% of their friends posted about drinking alcohol on Facebook, they may develop the impression that everyone drinks. Similarly, if they see a post from a favourite celebrity expressing interest in cannabis, they may develop the prescriptive norm that drug use is an accepted behaviour. Social media content reflecting adolescents' affirmative attitudes toward drugs, glorifying substance use, and encouraging drug use is increasingly prevalent (Siddiqui et al., 2025). Social media platforms also showed increased peer pressure and easier access to drugs (Nesi et al., 2017). In summary, the literature shows that social media can create the perception among adolescents that substance use is normal, fun or acceptable, which can then manifest as increased substance use behavior. Studies examining the relationship between peer pressure and substance use showed that contexts such as family and the immediate environment can modify this relationship (Loke & Mak, 2013). For example, even if their friends smoke, adolescents from families where the parents are against smoking and convey this to their children generally do not start smoking. This is explained by the parents’ function as a "protective social norm." (Montes et al., 2023). The parents’ message that "smoking is unacceptable in this home" presents the adolescent with a different norm than their peer group. The adolescent acts more cautiously between two conflicting norms. Family support and a close family relationship are considered important moderators. In adolescents with close and trusting relationships with their parents, the link between friends' substance use and the adolescent's own use is significantly weakened (Dorius et al., 2004). In other words, adolescents with warm relationships with their parents are much less likely to use substances, even if their friends use them. There are many reasons for this. The literature highlights concerns about getting caught and a reluctance to disappoint their family. Adolescent substance use varies on age and parental status. Parental support reduces peer influence in early adolescence; however, in late adolescence, family influence weakens, exerting less influence compared to peer influence. As adolescence progresses, peer influence strengthens, and conversely, family influence diminishes. In the 15-16 age group, also known as middle adolescence, family factors are reported to still play a significant role. Consequently, family is a decisive and influential factor in preventing adolescent substance use (Henneberger et al., 2021; Loke & Mak, 2013; Watts et al., 2024). Healthy communication within the family, a strong parent- adolescent bond, and parents' clearly negative attitudes toward substances reduce adolescent substance use. All these family factors also play a role in adolescents' ability to cope with peer pressure. While research on adolescent substance use in Northern Cyprus is limited, some studies from Turkey and neighboring regions can be instructive. There are studies examining the relationship between social media and substance use (Yıldırım Demirdöğen et al., 2024). Social media addiction is associated with substance addiction. In Turkey, the negative effects of unconscious and excessive social media use on adolescents was demonstrated. These negative effects include disconnection from the real world, poor academic performance, and various psychological problems. All these factors contribute to substance use (Ciydem et al., 2025). The prevalence of substance addiction increased among people diagnosed with internet and social media addiction in Turkey. Digital addictions and addictions to chemicals are common risk factors. Loneliness, low self-esteem, and adolescent depression can increase due to social media. To cope with these problems, people turn to substance abuse (Kim, 2024). In Northern Cyprus, a traditional family structure prevails, and community ties are strong (Eser & Yazgın, 2021). On the other hand, adolescents have a high level of access to and use of digital culture. This research aims to uncover the relationships between social media, social pressure, and substance use in Northern Cyprus contributing to the literature both theoretically and through the lens of a local case study. Social media can directly or indirectly influence adolescents' substance use. The direct effect is facilitated access to substances and exposure to negative content. The indirect effect occurs through peer norms and pressure. Peer pressure is considered a central mechanism in adolescent substance use, while social media makes peer pressure persistent and visible, potentially leading adolescents to use substances. Family support is the most important protective factor. Family support weakens the power of peer pressure and facilitates adolescents' resistance to negative influences (Liu, 2025). This research examines the relationship between substance use and social media in adolescents from Northern Cyprus.

Methodology

Findings

To examine the moderating effect of family support on the relationship between time spent on social media and social pressure, Model 1 was selected in PROCESS Macro and the analysis was applied. As a result of the analysis, the interaction between time spent on social media and family support was significant (p<.05) and the effect of time spent on social media on social pressure varied according to the level of family support. The results of the analysis are given in Table 6.1.

To examine the mediating role of social pressure in the relationship between time spent on social media and 30-day cigarette use frequency, Model 4 in PROCESS Macro was selected and the analysis was applied. As a result of the analysis, social pressure had a partial mediating effect in the relationship between time spent on social media and 30-day cigarette use frequency and this indirect effect was statistically significant. The results of the analysis are given in Table 6.2.

To examine the mediating role of social pressure in the relationship between time spent on social media and cannabis use frequency (during the last 30 days), Model 4 in PROCESS Macro was selected and the analysis was applied. The direct effect of time spent on social media on cannabis use frequency (during the last 30 days) was significant and the direct effect of time spent on social media on social pressure was significant. However, the effect of social pressure on cannabis use frequency (during the last 30 days) was not significant and the indirect effect was not significant. Results are given in Table 6.3.

The mediating role of social pressure in the relationship between time spent on social media and last day drank alcohol (recency), was evaluated with Model 4 in PROCESS Macro. As a result of the analysis, the direct and indirect effects of time spent on social media on last day drank alcohol (recency) were significant. Time spent on social media had a significant effect on social pressure. Social pressure had a significant effect on last day drank alcohol (recency). There was partial mediation and the indirect effect was significant. The results of the analysis are given in Table 6.4.

The mediating role of social pressure in the relationship between time spent on social media and heavy episodic drinking frequency (30-day binge), was evaluated with Model 4 in PROCESS Macro. The direct effect of time spent on social media on heavy episodic drinking frequency (30-day binge) was significant. Time spent on social media significantly increases the level of social pressure. Social pressure had a significant effect on heavy episodic drinking frequency (30-day binge). The indirect effect was significant and there was a partial mediation. The results of the analysis are given in Table 6.5.

Discussion

This research investigated the effects of social media on adolescents in Northern Cyprus. One aspect of the study examined the mediating role of social pressure in the relationship between social media and substance use. As adolescents spend more time on social media, they become more influenced by their peers' behaviors and expectations. This, in turn, increases their likelihood of substance use. This finding is consistent with previous research (Alwajud-Adewusi et al., 2025; Henneberger et al., 2021; Watts et al., 2024). Nesi et al.'s (2017) study found that adolescents who see their friends drinking alcohol on social media are more likely to engage in alcohol consumption due to their peers' influence. As Northern Cyprus adolescents' social media usage increased, their levels of social pressure increased, partially leading to their use of substances like alcohol and cigarettes. Social pressure, as Bandura and Walters (1986) stated, is related to modelling and receiving reinforcement from peers. Adolescents emulate the lives of their peers on social media and exhibit similar behaviors to gain social acceptance. The most negative of these behaviors is substance use. The thought, "My friends use substances, so I should too," or the worry, "If I don't use substances, I'll be excluded from my friends," drives adolescents to use substances. Social pressure reflects internal pressure, and the results obtained from ESPAD in this study showed that social media triggers internal pressure. The findings of this study, particularly regarding alcohol use, clearly reflect this relationship. Peer influence on social media translates into concrete behavior. As the duration of social media use increases, the level of influence from peer pressure increases. As peer pressure increases, the likelihood of experimenting with alcohol/binging within the past month increases. This chain conforms to the "social media → social norms → behavior" model in the literature (MacArthur et al., 2020; Vanherle et al., 2024). The finding in the mediation analysis regarding smoking in this study deserves discussion. A negative correlation was found between social media time and social pressure for smoking. Young people who were on social media more often had lower social pressure scores. Those with higher social pressure scores were less likely to smoke. This result appears contradictory, as the general expectation was that social media would increase social pressure, and social pressure would increase smoking. Social pressure leads to a tendency to "seek peer approval" and "conform" (Batool & Batool, 2025). Adolescents with high social pressure scores are likely to prioritize peer expectations, strictly adhere to rules, and avoid risks. Such adolescents may have avoided smoking if smoking was not the norm in their peer group or if their parents or teachers strictly supervised it. This situation suggested the concept of "social media isolation" in the literature. Some studies (Floridi et al., 2025; Pramod, 2024) showed that adolescents who use social media excessively became disconnected from real life and became isolated, leading them to not even feel peer pressure. A teenager who spends extended periods of time on social media may also feel less social pressure from their peers due to decreased physical interaction. This young person may be turning to smoking not out of social pressure, but rather due to factors such as curiosity or personal stress. Another possibility is that those with high social pressure scores may be "rulers" and therefore avoid smoking. In conclusion, while mediation (social pressure) yielded a positive effect in this study, this did not apply to cigarette use. This finding suggests that the dynamics of cigarette use may differ from those of alcohol or other substances. Smoking is a behavior that is increasingly less accepted in many societies and strongly opposed by families and schools. Therefore, its representation on social media may not be as "encouraging" as that of alcohol. Implicit and restricted portrayals of tobacco use in media environments (advertisement bans, etc.) may also have led to negative norms regarding smoking. In this case, peer pressure could also be in favor of "not smoking." For example, if the norm of a popular group is healthy living, young people may adopt that norm and not smoke. Further analysis and qualitative data are needed to examine this finding. It's significant that the study didn't reveal a mediation effect of social pressure on cannabis use. Cannabis use is less common and more stigmatized among adolescents (Basedow et al., 2025). It may not be discussed as openly as alcohol or cigarettes in peer groups. Therefore, peer pressure may not be at play regarding cannabis. Curiosity, personal risk-taking, or perhaps independent social influence might be the reason an adolescent tried cannabis. For example, they may have viewed unfamiliar images and videos online. The research findings revealed a negative correlation between duration of social media use and cannabis use. This finding is striking and not frequently encountered in the literature. A teenager who spends long hours of their day on social media may not have the time to experiment with cannabis. Alternatively, teens who spend more time on social media may be preoccupied with activities like gaming and not feel the need to use substances. During COVID-19, adolescents stayed home, and internet addiction behaviors increased. Conversely, a decrease in substance use was observed, particularly due to access issues (Huang et al., 2021). While this study was conducted after the pandemic, a similar pattern may persist. However, this is not the general trend, as a positive correlation was found with social media use, conversely for alcohol and cigarette use. Therefore, the cannabis use finding should be approached with caution. When these data are evaluated, it may be assumed that the results are based on a specific pattern. It's also worth considering the possibility that a group of adolescents with "game addiction" who use social media extensively may not be using substances. The strongest finding of this study is the moderating role of family support. Among adolescents with high levels of family support, increased time spent on social media had little to no impact on social pressure. However, among those with low family support, an increase in social media use had a significant effect on social pressure. This finding highlights the importance of protective family factors and is consistent with numerous studies in the literature (Rodríguez-Ruiz & Espejo-Siles, 2025; Simons-Morton & Farhat, 2010). Even if a young person is exposed to risky content or peer guidance on social media, they can be more resilient if they receive emotional support from their family. Young people with low family support, seek to meet their need for approval entirely from their peer group, so they feel even more pressure to be popular on social media or to follow their friends' example. Indeed, the coefficient for social media → social pressure was significant and positive in the low family support group. The literature suggests that when family function weakens, the focus of influence on the child shifts toward peers and the media (Luo et al., 2020; Williams & Anthony, 2015). These research findings should be evaluated within the context of Northern Cyprus. Northern Cyprus is a small and isolated society, so social norms and family values tend to be strong (Eser & Yazgın, 2021; Fuat, 2022). This research showed that this situation is evident even in adolescents' behavior in digital environments. The protective role of family support is important in societies with strong social ties like Northern Cyprus. Furthermore, social media is a global phenomenon, and young people in Northern Cyprus, like their peers in other countries, access similar content on social media platforms. These findings are considered valuable in revealing the interaction between local Cypriot family culture and global digital culture. The risks posed by digitalization (such as the temptation to use drugs) are universal and have an impact in Northern Cyprus; on the other hand, local dynamics such as strong family ties can mitigate the consequences of these risks. The findings of this study have important implications for Northern Cyprus in terms of policy and practice in combating substance abuse. Family- based interventions should be implemented to reduce the risks posed by social media use. Social media literacy training appears critical. Adolescents should be encouraged to critically evaluate the content they encounter on social media, became aware of peer pressure, and developed the ability to say no. It is advisable for families to take an interest in their children's digital activities. By establishing a trusting relationship with their children, parents can discuss potential risky situations with them. The need to focus on groups with low family support should also be emphasized. In summary, the findings of this research demonstrate a dynamic and interactive network of relationships among social media use, peer pressure, family support, and substance use. While social media shapes adolescents' social worlds, the risks associated with this world can be exacerbated through peer pressure. The most important solution to this problem is strong family relationships. Parental support is the primary factor that helps protect adolescents from all these risks in the digital age.

Conclusions and Recommendations

The findings of the research are summarized, and the conclusions are presented below. Recommendations are also presented regarding the results. i. According to the research results, social media use increases social pressure in adolescents. For young people with limited familial support, spending excessive time on social media can significantly increase the pressure to conform to peer expectations. Those who use social media for more than two hours a day feel more social pressure than those who use it less. Social media use time should be limited, and young people should be educated about the negative effects of seeking likes and approval in online interactions. ii. Research results suggest that social pressure triggers substance use in adolescents. Social media partially influences cigarette and alcohol use through peer pressure. Alcohol use is more common among adolescents with high social pressure scores. Schools should implement training programs that foster resilience to peer pressure (such as skills for saying no). iii. Family support weakens the relationship between social media and peer pressure. Teens who receive high levels of emotional support from their families are more resistant to peer manipulation, even if they use social media extensively. Parents should take an interest in their children's digital worlds, adopting a supportive rather than restrictive approach. iv. Awareness of the risks posed by social media in Northern Cyprus must increase. Substance use, which is currently low, may increase due to social media influence. Social media hygiene training should be provided in schools and families, and institutions should include substance abuse modules in their technology addiction programs. v. Prevention strategies should be planned holistically. Substance use should be considered within the context of the individual, social, and digital environment, and efforts should be made to prevent it. Individualized life skills and digital literacy training should be provided. Digital parenting skills should be developed, and family communication should be strengthened. Seminars should be held on the relationship between social media and substance use, and the media should serve as positive role models. vi. More in-depth research is needed in the future. It is not yet clear which content, platforms, and forms of interaction on social media are riskier. Further research should address variables such as psychological stress and loneliness and examine adolescents' experiences through qualitative research. This study's cross-sectional design limits causal interpretations; the directionality between social media, social pressure, and substance use cannot be definitively determined. As the data were collected through self-reporting, there is a risk of social desirability bias and recall error. The measurement tool reflects complex constructs such as family support and social pressure to a limited extent. A longitudinal design, biochemical validation, and more comprehensive measurement methods are recommended for future research. In conclusion, this research provided important data for understanding the complex interactions facing the young generation growing up in the digital age. Social media became a part of the adolescent experience, and as a result, traditional risk areas like substance use take on new dimensions. A collaborative approach that addresses social, digital, and familial factors is essential to supporting healthy youth development. Educators, health professionals, families, and policymakers must collaborate to cultivate digitally literate youth while strengthening traditional values and support systems. Achieving this balance is key to fostering a generation of informed youth who can benefit from the opportunities offered by social media while protecting themselves from its risks.

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