Excessive use of social networks: main risk factors

A third of the world population has access to the Internet from a mobile device. Among the most used applications those of communication (instant messaging services, social networks sites, blogs and microblogs …), better known as “social network“.

The use of these applications is associated with positive effects such as self -awareness, perceived well -being, the development of identity, the perception of social support and the feelings of social connection (Khang et al., 2014; Lee, Lee & Kwon, 2011; Nadkarni & Hofmann, 2012; Seafobrook, Kern & Rickard, 2016; Allen et al., 2014).

In addition to these positive effects, there is a growing research on negative consequences and on Disadvantages due to the use of social mediafor example cyberbullying, “techno-stress” and excessive use or that creates dependence on these applications (Andreassen, 2015; Hong et al., 2014; Linvingstone & Smith, 2014).

THE’problematic use of social media It is defined by Andreassen (2015) as “Being excessively involved by thoughts relating to social networks, be driven by a strong motivation to access or use social media and dedicate them so much time and commitment to compromise other social activities, study/work, interpersonal relationships and/or health and psychological well -being“(P., 4045).

Since this behavior similar to addiction has not yet been officially classified as a disorder, for now the use of the term “problematic use of social media” appears more cautious.

Psychological needs and psychosocial characteristics of those who make the problematic of social networks

According to Katz, Blumler and Gurevich (1974) users meet the following needs through the use of media/internet or specific applications: need fun, need for information, personal identity and need for interaction and social integration.

The “double factor model of the use of Facebook of Nadkarni and Hofmann (2012) differentiates two basic social needs (in the users of the social network): the need to belong (maintain a social connection) and the need for self-presentation (define one’s identity).

This is in line with the approach of Valkenburg and Peter (2007) which describe two different trajectories through which a user can conclude a problematic use of social media:

• (a) The hypothesis of social compensation, for which individuals with high social needs and at the same time low social skills have difficulty making friends in the face -to -face interactions. Online communication applications are for them a possibility to compensate for these deficiencies, which can translate into a preference of online interactions.
• On the contrary, the hypothesis (b) provides that individuals with low social anxiety and high social skills use internet/social networks as additional tools to maximize their social connection.

As regards the psychosocial characteristics of the problematic users of social media, research illustrates that social anxiety is strongly associated with a problematic use (Lee-Won, Herzog & Park, 2015; Casale & Fioravanti, 2015).

Donnelly and Kuss (2016) stressed that the time spent on social networks and problematic use were associated with depressive symptoms. Further empirical tests support that individuals with greater perceived solitude run a greater risk than problematic use of social networks (Reissmann et al., 2018; Suissa, 2015; Omar & Subramanian, 2013; Kim, 2018; De Cock et al., 2013; Kim, Larose & Peng, 2009; Shettar et al., 2017).

In addition to the role of solitude, Wegmann and Brand (2016) have shown that the less perceived social support also has a direct effect on the severity of the symptoms of a problematic use of social networks.

Problematic use of social networks: the two risk trajectories

In an interesting article in 2019, Wegmann and brand hypothesize that two groups of users exist, both high risk of developing a problematic use of social mediabased on several predisposing factors and several emotional and cognitive processes.

At the center of this difference there may be the type of reinforcement mechanism that interacts with specific predisposing variables.

The trajectory “Social anxiety/compensation research”

In this first risk trajectory, specific psychosocial characteristics, such as high social anxiety, solitude and depression – indicated as social deficits in real life – are associated with higher trends in problematic use.

The preference for thesocial interaction onlinein combination with poor social competence, they can lead to excessive use of social media.

This is in line with the hypothesis of social compensation, which states that dissatisfied (social) needs, social deficits and preference for online social interactions can involve excessive use of social networks (for example, Brailovskaia et al., 2019).

In this hypothesis, the authors assume that the combination of low social competence, high social anxiety and the negative thrust of the compensation of social deficits fall in the frequent and intense use of social networks, according to a mechanism of negative reinforcement (relief from anxiety).

The trajectory “Social competence/research of the reward”

The authors say that there are individuals with a high need to belong, a high need for popularity and high social skills, which come to the frequent and intense use of social networks to satisfy these needs.

Social networks seem to offer added value for users, consisting ofexpectation to receive quick and intense gratifications.

Individuals, who are socially integrated into real life with strong ego-center motivations (for example, linked to narcissism), run a greater risk of developing problematic behavior, since they feel intense feelings of reward in online social interactions.

These mechanisms of positive reinforcementlike the satisfaction of the need to belong and the experience of gratification, characterize the approach based on reward.

Future conclusions and directions

The two possible risk trajectories are not excluded each other!

Elements of both hypotheses can interact with each other and the authors argue that there could also be a transition from the reward motivations (hypothesis 2) to the processes guided by anxiety and search for compensation (hypotheses 1).

The conclusions taken by the authors, and the interesting recapitol of the main results of the research on the issue of needs and psychosocial characteristics of those who incur the risk of problematic use of social networks, are an essential reference for those involved in the psychotherapy of behavioral addictions, as well as an enlightened starting point for anyone who cares about the issue.

The possible consequences of the interaction between psychosocial characteristics, specific reinforcement mechanisms and further factors that could play a key role in giving rise to an addiction, remain one of the most important areas to explore with the research.

Bibliography

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* Fomo: English acronym for “Fear of Missing Out”, which corresponds to the fear of losing or not participating in a pleasant and rewarding experience that involves acquaintances or friends.

* Figure taken from Wegmann, E., Brand, M. (2019).