Social Media Communication

8 Problematic Use of Social Media

LEARNING GOALS

This chapter will help you understand:

• How pervasive is the problematic use of social media?
• What is the mechanism of repetitive use of social media?
• What are the major adverse outcomes of the problematic use of social media?

KEY CONCEPTS

Problematic use of social media

Reward system

Phubbing

Self-control

Fear of missing out (FOMO)

Cyber troops

THEORY HIGHLIGHT

Third-Person Effect

Overview

Scientists have reached more consensus about the benefits of social media use than its adverse effects on users. So far research has not detected a widespread addiction of social media among young or old users. In fact, scholars can hardly agree on how to define problematic use of social media (PUSM) due to the conceptual confusion surrounding the classification of normal or problematic usage of these digital platforms. An excessive and problematic use of social media can be treated as part of generalized internet addiction. Internet addiction is an umbrella term depicting a range of specific problematic use, misuse, and addictions in computer-based technologies, include gaming disorder, sexting, online gambling addiction, and social media addiction. Compared to adults, children and adolescents are often more vulnerable to generalized internet addiction, which brings young people more negative outcomes.

Generally, such disorders or addictive behaviors are comparatively sporadic among users. Large nationally representative surveys, based ...