Social media addiction has become one of the most pressing and rapidly escalating public health issues in our digital era. Its impact on the mental health, emotional growth, academic performance, and relationships of young people around the globe is both profound and far-reaching. This thorough review pulls together existing research on social media addiction in adolescents and young adults, exploring its definition, prevalence in both global and Indian contexts, psychological and physical effects, risk factors, and the underlying causes. It also looks at how these issues can differ by gender and highlights effective intervention strategies. By analyzing peer-reviewed studies published from 2000 to 2023, the review uncovers key themes, findings, and theoretical frameworks that have influenced this field, while also critically assessing what we currently know about social media addiction and its effects on young people's well-being. The review wraps up by pointing out significant gaps in the literature and suggesting future research paths, clinical practices, educational policies, and public health strategies to tackle the social media addiction crisis among youth in India. The findings emphasize the urgent need for coordinated, evidence-based, and culturally aware approaches to address social media addiction at individual, institutional, and societal levels.