What is Social Media Addiction?
Social media addiction* is a more modern form of technology addictions that can be defined in several ways depending on the source. However, most researchers and professionals agree on two main criteria: an inability to stop using social media and significant relational, occupational, educational, or personal problems that arise due to the inability to stop using.
Social Media and Mental Health
Nearly half of the world’s population actively use social media. Because of its immense popularity, many mental health professionals and researchers have questioned how social media affects mental health. This has led to a variety of studies that have shown mixed results that can depend on the population being studied. The consensus from research suggests that, like most things, social media has the capability of affecting people positively and negatively. For some, social media provides a practical avenue to connect with loved ones or acquaintances in a way that may have been more difficult in the past. For others, social media causes immense distress as a result of social comparison that leads people to question their value and feel less confident about themselves and their life. Research also suggests that extended social media use can increase the likelihood of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and body dysmorphia.
Those with concerns about the negative effects social media has on mental health often criticize profit-motivated social media companies aimed at increasing user engagement by any means necessary. In their article titled, “Ethics of the attention economy: the problem of social media addictions,” Bhargava and Velasquez (2021) argue that social media companies pose a unique risk of creating addictive behaviors that go beyond what has been seen with other addictive substances such as alcohol and nicotine. For example, the use of adaptive algorithms that respond to the input of social media users creates a feedback loop of data that can then be used to consistently engage the user. More simply put, the addictive nature of social media can be used against the user to make it more addictive. And unlike other organizations that sell addictive things, social media companies have their users actively contribute to the addictiveness of their product.
While researchers and the public often focus on the effects social media has on mental health, it should be noted that some people are more susceptible to social media addiction than others. People with depression, anxiety, and low impulse control have been shown to be at greater risk of social media addiction. The effects of having poor relationships with others is also a well-documented phenomenon that can lead to a higher risk of social media addiction, with isolation and conflict with others being common factors that can contribute to overuse. For young children and teenagers, having a poor relationship with one or more of their caregivers has been shown to be one of the most significant risk factors for social media addiction. On an individual level, people who express low self-esteem, loneliness, and lack of freedom are also at a higher risk of having a social media addiction.
Social Media Addiction Scales
Social media scales are tools that mental health professionals can use to determine if someone meets the clinical “threshold” for problematic social media use. Like gaming disorder scales, social media scales mostly take criteria from gambling disorder because it falls under the umbrella of behavioral addictions and is currently recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5.
One of the core debates about social media addiction scales is whether they should assess overall social media use or potential addiction to a particular app. Proponents of the more general approach argue that due to the similarities experienced between social media apps, a general scale will likely include the necessary criteria needed to diagnose someone with social media disorder. They also point out that creating specific scales for each app may be difficult to maintain because of the rise and fall in popularity of each app (e.g., the recent surge of Tik Tok). Lastly, proponents of the more general approach argue that treatment from mental health professionals will likely take a similar trajectory regardless of app preference, so determining whether someone has an addiction to a specific app may not be as therapeutically practical.
Some examples of general social media addictions scales include:
Proponents of using scales for specific apps often point out how each social media app, while retaining similar features to one another, will have unique characteristics that will affect people in different ways. Several research teams have shown this by exploring how specific social media apps can provide different psychological needs to their users. For example, one study conducted by Karapanos, Teixeira & Gouveia (2015) showed that Whatsapp users were more likely to report feelings of connectedness, while Facebook users were more likely to report feelings of self-esteem. Given that each social media app has its own characteristics that provide unique experiences to their users, advocates for the specific approach argue that mental health professionals should use scales developed for particular apps to gain a better understanding of how it may be impacting a client’s mental health.
Some scales for specific social media apps include:
Social Media Addiction Treatment
The primary modality researched to address social media addiction is individual cognitive-behavioral therapy, so implementing techniques that look at potential cognitive distortions such as “I’m not as happy as other people” may be beneficial. Other interventions in individual therapy may include recognizing cues to problematic use (e.g., boredom, stress), addressing other mental health concerns like depression and anxiety that can contribute to use, and developing strategies that minimize problematic use and increase fulfilling use.
Due to the relational nature of social media, effective treatment will also likely incorporate assessments and interventions targeted at self-esteem, social comparison, and perceived life satisfaction. Elements from self-determination theory – connection, freedom, and competence (feelings of mastery) – have also been shown in research to affect social media use and may be beneficial to explore with people seeking improvement in their relationship with social media.
Contact The Center for Technology Wellness for Your Free Social Media Addiction Consultation Today!
At the Center for Technology Wellness, we incorporate elements from individual and systemic theories to provide options that will work for each client’s unique concerns. We take a harm reduction approach that includes the perspective of what each client deems “successful treatment,” which can include stopping social media use altogether or reducing use that might be considered harmful (e.g., using social media before doing homework or during social events). Regardless of treatment preference or goals, each client will be given a non-judgmental atmosphere to explore their relationship with social media and a therapist who will listen to their unique life experiences.
Some assessments and interventions that we use include:
- Defining what “problematic social media use” means to you or a loved one
- Determining “green, yellow, and red zone use” to understand when you are using social media in leisurely, concerning, or harmful ways
- Performing a social media feed analysis to get a better understanding of your personality and how it relates to your social media use
- Using social media addiction scales developed by researchers to gain a better understanding of symptoms and treatment options
- Assessing for how other mental health issues could be contributing to problematic social media use (e.g., anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia, eating disorders, social anxiety, impulsivity)
- Exploring other factors in your life that may be contributing to problematic social media use (e.g., low self-esteem, loneliness, lack of freedom)
- Examining the elements of social media that commonly create stress (e.g., social comparison, fear of not being good enough)
- Identifying emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and environmental cues that lead to problematic use
- Practicing ways to recognize these cues to curb problematic use and divert energy to other fulfilling activities
- Constructing a support network of family members, friends, and professionals who can have the social media user’s back as they seek a more fulfilling life
*The term “addiction” in relation to technology is controversial amongst researchers and clinicians. Although some are attempting to use terms “addiction” and “disorder” to describe problematic usage of technology to develop scales and diagnoses for clinical settings, others contend that these terms are inappropriate for several reasons (e.g., they could stigmatize people, they mislead people into thinking substance addictions are identical to technology addictions).
These terms are used on this site because it is the language that most people commonly use when seeking information and help on this topic. At the Center for Technology Wellness, we use the preferred terminology of our clients, whether it includes more diagnostic terms like “addiction” and “disorder,” or simple descriptions provided by our clients (e.g., “I feel like I’m watching Tik Tok too much”).
Sources:
Bhargava, V. R., & Velasquez, M. (2021). Ethics of the attention economy: The problem of social media addiction. Business Ethics Quarterly, 31(3), 321-359.
Karapanos, E., Teixeira, P., & Gouveia, R. (2016). Need fulfillment and experiences on social media: A case on Facebook and WhatsApp. Computers in human behavior, 55, 888-897.
