<![CDATA[The exponential rise in social media consumption among young demographics has fueled widespread concern regarding its long-term footprint on psychological equilibrium. While compulsive platform immersion is frequently linked to various psychological challenges, empirical findings across different student cohorts remain highly fragmented. This inquiry set out to evaluate the statistical relationship connecting social media engagement and adolescent mental health status among students enrolled at SMP Negeri 6 Halmahera Selatan. Operating under a quantitative framework, the study applied an analytical observational design paired with a cross-sectional approach, tracking 36 respondents selected via a total sampling technique. Primary metrics were secured via structured, self-administered questionnaires to assess digital habits and mental health indicators, which were subsequently analyzed using descriptive statistics and Kendall's tau-b correlation test. The descriptive outputs revealed that while 72.2% of the cohort fell into the active social media user bracket, an overwhelming 83.3% successfully maintained normal mental health profiles. Furthermore, the Kendall's tau-b mathematical validation yielded a correlation coefficient of -0.274 with a p-value of 0.102, confirming that there is no statistically significant or meaningful association between the two target variables. These insights demonstrate that adolescent mental wellness is a complex construct governed by a multi-layered matrix of environmental factors beyond simple screen time. Consequently, unified structural efforts from domestic circles, educational institutions, and community healthcare systems remain vital to champion digital mindfulness and secure the psychological well-being of youth.]]>
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