Social Media: Addiction

That some people watch too much television or play too many video games is probably not news to anyone. On a basic level, overindulging in too much screen time can be negative to the extent that it takes us away from other activities or contributes to a sedentary lifestyle. But what do we mean that someone is “addicted” to media? How does such an addiction relate (or not) to addictions to substances such as tobacco or heroin?

Many people present excessive patterns of social networking site (SNS) use and try to self-regulate it. However, little is known regarding the strategies employed by young adult SNS users and their role in preventing the emergence of addiction-like symptoms in relation to SNS use. In Study 1, we employed a naturalistic-qualitative approach for finding commonly employed self-control strategies in relation to SNS use. In Study 2, we examined differences between the frequency and difficulty of the strategies identified in Study 1 and tested the process through which trait self-control exerts influence on reducing SNS addiction symptomology. Study 1 revealed six families of self-control strategies, some reactive and some proactive. Study 2 pinpointed the most commonly used and most difficult to enact ones. It also showed that the difficulty to enact self-control strategies in relation to SNS use partially mediates the effect of trait self-control via SNS use habit on SNS addiction symptom severity. Taken together, the present findings revealed that strategies for self-controlling SNS use are common and complex. Their theoretical and clinical significance stems from their ability to prevent the translation of poor trait self-control and strong SNS use habit to the emergence of excessive use as manifested in SNS addiction-like symptoms.

We investigate the intersection of social media and the workplace, focusing on job performance impacts of employees' social media addictions and social media reactions through work-family balance and burnout. The research model is grounded in conservation of resources theory, which suggests social media compulsions and emotional reactions to co-worker's social media posts will deplete employees' energetic and constructive resources, making it difficult to achieve work-family balance and increasing the likelihood of job burnout, and will ultimately degrade job performance. A sample of 326 full-time employees revealed a negative relationship between social media addiction and work-family balance and a positive relationship between social media reactions and job burnout. Balance and burnout mediated the relationship between social media and job performance such that social media addiction was negatively related to job performance through work-family balance, and social media reactions were negatively related to performance through burnout and work-family conflict.

Although studies have shown that increases in the frequency of social media use may be associated with increases in depressive symptoms of individuals with depression, the current study aimed to identify specific social media behaviors related to major depressive disorder (MDD). Millennials (N = 504) who actively use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and/or Snapchat participated in an online survey assessing major depression and specific social media behaviors. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify specific social media behaviors associated with the presence of MDD. The results identified five key social media factors associated with MDD. Individuals who were more likely to compare themselves to others better off than they were (p = 0.005), those who indicated that they would be more bothered by being tagged in unflattering pictures (p = 0.011), and those less likely to post pictures of themselves along with other people (p = 0.015) were more likely to meet the criteria for MDD. Participants following 300 + Twitter accounts were less likely to have MDD (p = 0.041), and those with higher scores on the Social Media Addiction scale were significantly more likely to meet the criteria for MDD (p = 0.031). Participating in negative social media behaviors is associated with a higher likelihood of having MDD. Research and clinical implications are considered.

To teenagers, social media is more than just a communication tool, it becomes a way of life; a sphere where they can explore and create their own models, often at the expense of face-to-face interactions. As Nya enters adulthood, this young woman takes a critical look at how social media has impacted and continues to influence the shaping of her identity, experiences and values.

Children as young as three are becoming addicted to mobile phones, harming their development and causing possible long-term damage. We follow some of the youngest cases and hear how our brains are affected by exposure to screens. We also learn how platforms like snapchat or facebook are engineered to make them hyper-addictive. Three year old Ryan doesn’t speak, avoids eye contact and frequently has screaming fits. His school is so worried about his behavior that they called a doctor, who diagnosed a worrying new condition—digital addiction. Its symptoms are very common to autism but luckily, there’s a cure. After a few days away from the screen, Ryan says ‘mummy’ for the first time in a year. Within a few weeks, his behavior has returned to normal. Today, scientists are convinced that screens affect our brain development. In France, doctors have even issued a warning. How seriously should we take it?