Here's what the most relevant research published in 2022 has to say about social media addiction
Top 25 most cited journal articles on social media addiction
Research on social media addiction is an emerging field, but there is a growing body of evidence that suggests that excessive use of social media can lead to addictive behavior and negative consequences on mental health.
Excessive use of social media has been linked to a number of negative outcomes, such as increased symptoms of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and sleep disturbances. Some studies have found that people who are addicted to social media have difficulty controlling their usage and experience withdrawal symptoms when they are unable to access it.
Research has also shown that social media addiction is associated with a number of risk factors, such as low self-esteem, high neuroticism, and poor emotional regulation. Additionally, research has suggested that social media addiction is associated with poor mental health outcomes such as depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.
It's important to note that social media addiction is not officially recognized as a disorder in the Diagn and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), but some experts consider it as a behavioral addiction. Moreover, research on social media addiction is still in its early stages, and more research is needed to fully understand the potential causes and consequences of excessive social media use.
It's advisable to be mindful of one's social media usage and set up healthy boundaries. For example, setting limits on the amount of time spent on social media, being selective about who one follows and what one reads, and being aware of how social media use affects one's mood, can be beneficial. If excessive social media use is impacting daily life, it's important to seek help from a healthcare professional.