SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION RESEARCH
βAN EVIDENCE-BASED SOLUTIONβ
Our method has a proven record of alleviating excessive and unhealthy levels of social media use, improving participants' relationship with social media and enhancing their ability to focus, learn, and self-reflect.
The team at Post-Internet Project has implemented, tested, received feedback, and refined our method for almost six years.
Comparing data results over time based on the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, we can confidently attest to the efficacy of our methods in reducing adolescentsβ social media addiction.
We utilize agency and intentionality, exploring the impact of specific social media behaviors on an individualized basis. Moving beyond the overly-simplistic dichotomy of active versus passive social media use, our approach considers the unique characteristics, habits, and values of each person. This approach aims to provide a more holistic understanding of the complex relationship between social media consumption and mental health outcomes.
Our Methods Align with Known Efficacy of Addiction Programs.
PRISM is designed with methods clinical psychologists consider to be best practices for addiction recovery and increased quality of life.
Our methods have been reviewed and endorsed by addiction specialists and clinical psychologists.
As the experts know, self-compassion and joy go a long way.
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Emotional + Social Support
Self- Efficacy
Knowledge Sharing
Accountability
Retention -
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The Correlations: Social Media & Well-Being
Our team investigated additional well-being outcomes and their correlation to social media addiction based on the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale.
In social science, a pearson correlation (π) of π>0.3 is considered a moderate-strong correlation.
The following well-being outcomes had moderate-strong correlations with social media addiction. As good researchers, we remind you that correlation is not causation.
Sense of Negative Agency (SoNA)
π=0.496
β Sense of Agency
β Problematic Social Media Use
Sense of negative agency refers to feelings of helplessness or that oneβs actions are out of their control.
Addiction undermines choice and agency by coopting the reward circuitry in the brain. Addicts report feeling as if they are not in control of their actions, and it appears that this pattern holds strongly for those experiencing excessive social media use.
Anxious Attitudes Towards Technology (ADTS Anx)
π=0.436
β Anxiety Towards Technology
β Problematic Social Media Use
Participants who scored high on the Anxious Attitudes Towards Technology scale indicate they experience feelings of anxiety about and dependence on technology.
This indicates that those addicted to social media may be experiencing more anxiety as a result, use social media as relief from anxiety, or some combination of the two.
Perceived Stress (PSS)
π=0.394
β Perceived Stress
β Problematic Social Media Use
The Perceived Stress Scale is the most widely used psychological instrument for measuring the perception of stress.
Those with a heightened sense of stress may seek respite in social media and/or may experience more stress as a result of their addiction to social media.
Regardless of the complex relationship between stress and media consumption, we can all agree lower stress feels better.
Read the Full Social Media Addiction Research
Change Questionnaire (ChQ)
π=0.334
β Problematic Social Media Use
β Desire to Change
Participants who scored higher on the Change Questionnaire had a stronger desire and motivation to change their relationship with social media.
This could suggest that those with excessive social media use may sense that something is βoffβ and consequently desire to change. Alternatively, time spent on social media could be making them feel unsatisfied with their lives, thus motivating change.
Read the full research methodologies in the document below. Weβre always open to answering questions and explaining how we conduct our research at Post-Internet Project.
