Modifiable Factors Associated with Social Media Addiction: Gratifications Sought, Social Media Realism, and Social Network Characteristics

Abstract

Addictive use of social media may engender negative outcomes. This study investigated modifiable factors associated with social media addiction (SMA). These factors were gratifications sought with social media use, perceived social media realism, and social media network characteristics. Data were from a survey of U.S. adults. The linkage between socialization gratification and social media addiction was weaker when people perceived social media content as being less real. Surveillance and socialization gratifications sought predicted social media addiction indirectly through people’s social network structures on social media. Implications for future interventions addressing social media addiction are discussed.