Negative Impacts of Social Media on Social Culture and Moral Values of Cambodian Youth and Strategies for Mitigation in the Digital Era: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract Social media has become an integral part of daily life for young people worldwide, including Cambodia. While digital platforms provide unprecedented opportunities for communication, education, and economic participation, growing evidence indicates that excessive and unregulated social media use can negatively affect social culture, moral values, and psychological well-being among youth. This review synthesizes international and Cambodia-specific academic literature on the adverse impacts of social media on youth morality, cultural norms, mental health, and social behavior. It further examines the mechanisms through which these impacts occur, such as algorithmic amplification, peer influence, and digital inequality. Finally, the paper proposes multi-level mitigation strategies involving education systems, families, policymakers, digital platforms, and civil society to promote responsible and culturally sensitive social media use in the digital era. Keywords: social media, youth, morality, culture, Cambodia, digital literacy, mental health