Problematic Social Media Use

An impaired ability to stop or control social media use despite adverse social, occupational/school-related, or mental health consequences. The lack of regulation of one’s use of social media associated with negative outcomes in everyday functioning. See also social media fatigue, doomscrolling, and passive social media use.

Reference:

Christakis, D. A., & Hale, L. (2025). Toward defining problematic media usage patterns in adolescents. JAMA, 333(23), 2045-2046. https://www.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2025.6113

Casale, S., Akbari, M., Seydavi, M., Benucci, S. B., & Fioravanti, G. (2023). Has the prevalence of problematic social media use increased over the past seven years and since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic? A meta-analysis of the studies published since the development of the Bergen social media addiction scale. Addictive Behaviors, 147, 107838. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107838