This study will investigate the role of social media use in the relationship between family functionality and subjective well-being (SWB) among Mexican adolescents aged 13–18 in selected high schools in Ciudad Juarez. Subjective well-being, defined as a balanced cognitive evaluation of life satisfaction and adaptive living, is influenced by various factors, including family dynamics and digital engagement. The research addresses gaps in understanding how social media use relates to family functioning and SWB.

Using a correlational design, the study will employ validated scales—the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Family Functioning Scale (FFS), and an adapted ESM Social Media Use Questionnaire (E-SMUQ)—to measure SWB, family functionality, and social media use, respectively. Data will be analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression to test hypotheses.

The key objective is to examine the relationship between social media use, family functioning, and subjective well-being. Findings aim to inform interventions and policies to enhance youth well-being by elucidating the interplay between familial and digital environments. The study underscores the importance of fostering adaptive family dynamics and mindful social media use to promote adolescents' psychological health in Mexico’s post-pandemic context.