Attentional bias in Internet users with problematic use of social networking sites

Nikolaidou, Maria; Fraser, Danaë Stanton; Hinvest, Neal

doi:10.1556/2006.8.2019.60

Cited by 39 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Again, this is in contrast to previous work on nonsubstance related addictions as shown by Ciccarelli et al (2016;Gambling), Jeromin et al (2016;Gamers), and Pekal et al (2018;Internet Pornography Use), which reported positive associations between levels of attention bias and use/ severity measures. Moreover, while Nikolaidou et al (2019) did report an association between the level of urge to be online and attentional dwell time to social media related stimuli, this effect was based on a small sample size (N 5 16).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…To our knowledge, only one paper has been published to date which has investigated the presence of an attentional bias in social media users. Nikolaidou, Fraser, and Hinvest (2019) reported an attentional bias, in the form of increased attentional dwell times, to social media related stimuli in a group of social media users. However, this finding could be limited by the task, which used over-sized social media images (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Social media ‘addiction’: The absence of an attentional bias to social media stimuli

Thomson

Hunter

Butler

et al. 2021

JBA

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Background and aimsSocial media use has become a ubiquitous part of society, with 3.8 billion users worldwide. While research has shown that there are positive aspects to social media engagement (e.g. feelings of social connectedness and wellbeing), much of the focus has been on the negative mental health outcomes which are associated with excessive use (e.g. higher levels of depression/anxiety). While the evidence to support such negative associations is mixed, there is a growing debate within the literature as to whether excessive levels of social media use should become a clinically defined addictive behaviour.MethodsHere we assess whether one hallmark of addiction, the priority processing of addiction related stimuli known as an ‘attentional bias’, is evident in a group of social media users (N = 100). Using mock iPhone displays, we test whether social media stimuli preferentially capture users' attention and whether the level of bias can be predicted by platform use (self-report, objective smartphone usage data), and whether it is associated with scores on established measures of social media engagement (SMES) and social media ‘addiction’ severity scales (BSNAS, SMAQ).ResultsOur findings do not provide support for a social media specific attentional bias. While there was a large range of individual differences in our measures of use, engagement, and ‘addictive’ severity, these were not predictive of, or associated with, individual differences in the magnitude of attentional capture by social media stimuli.ConclusionsMore research is required before social media use can be definitively placed within an addiction framework.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Social media ‘addiction’: The absence of an attentional bias to social media stimuli

Thomson

Hunter

Butler

et al. 2021

JBA

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Since little is known about the cognitive variables related to social network addiction, the present study investigates the role of attentional style as moderator variables between time perspectives and social network addiction. As stated by prior literature, attentional style is related both with time perspectives [23] and with addictive behaviors such as social network addiction [25]; therefore, we retain that attentional style might be responsible for individual variations in the relationship between time perspectives (all dimensions) and social network addiction. More specifically, internal vs. external attentional style might be responsible for the ways in which people select and focus their attention on their internal thoughts about past, present, or future life events and external interactive stimuli provided by social networking sites.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…A recent study by Nikolaidou, Fraser, and Hinvest [25] reported that attention could affect social network addiction, too. Indeed, authors showed that high social network addiction individuals focus more on processing visual stimuli related to social networking sites (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp logos) than control images (e.g., everyday objects such as a cup, clock, and umbrella).…”

Section: Attention and Social Network Addictionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Attentional Style Moderate the Relationship between Time Perspective and Social Network Addiction? A Cross-Sectional Study on a Sample of Social Networking Sites Users

Miceli

Scrima

Cardaci

et al. 2021

JCM

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The present study investigates the role of attentional style as a moderator variable between temporal perspective and social network addiction, since little is known about users’ cognitive variables involved in this kind of addictive behavior. To achieve this goal, a sample of 186 volunteers and anonymous social networking sites users (M = 34%; F = 66%; Mage = 22.54 years; SD = 3.94; range: 18 ÷ 45 years) participated in a cross-sectional study. All participants filled out self-report instruments measuring temporal perspective, internal vs. external attentional style, and social network addiction. The results align with the previous literature and show that present fatalistic and past negative time orientations are associated with social network addiction, whereas the future is a negative precursor. Moreover, a four-step hierarchical regression analysis showed that internal attentional style is a significant moderator of the relationship between high levels of temporal perspective and a high level of social network addiction. This result suggests that social network-addicted users are oriented toward internal stimuli such as their intrusive thoughts or feelings and that social network addiction is similar to obsessive compulsive disorders, depression, or anxiety. Despite its limitations, the present study could contribute to the efforts of clinicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, teachers, and all those who seek to combat social network addiction in developing treatment programs to reduce its harmful effects.

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“…Many studies are limited by their atheoretical approach and do not offer an explanation of the conditions under which compulsive SNS use develops or how it is maintained [ 3 ]. Nevertheless, a growing body of research has begun to employ behavioural experimental paradigms to examine the cognitive and motivational processes (such as inhibitory control and attentional bias) that might contribute to general SNS use behaviours and the development and maintenance of problematic SNS use [e.g., 4 – 6 ]. If problematic SNS use is to be considered a candidate behavioural addiction then such studies investigating the cognitive/motivational components of SNS use are important in order to demonstrate that it warrants recognition as an addictive disorder [ 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The roles of implicit approach motivation and explicit reward in excessive and problematic use of social networking sites

Wadsley

Ihssen

2022

PLoS ONE

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Despite growing concerns about the addictive potential of social networking sites (SNSs), little is known about the precise neural, cognitive, and emotional processes underpinning compulsive SNS behaviours, such as excessive checking of SNSs. Recent evidence points to the important role of reward in SNS behaviours and one avenue to examine reward processes related to SNSs is the use of behavioural paradigms that allow for the measurement of implicit motivational responses, such as the approach avoidance task (AAT). The AAT has been successfully utilised to capture changes in unconscious reward processes in substance use disorders and other behavioural addictions, with faster approach reactions to addiction-related stimuli reflecting increased wanting/urges to have/consume the reward. In the present study 411 young adults completed an online Visual Approach/Avoidance by the Self Task (VAAST) with social media and control logos as well as other subjective (explicit) measures of reward experience related to SNSs. Our results showed that across participants SNS logos elicited strong approach reactions (compared to control stimuli) and that stronger SNS approach tendencies predicted more frequent SNS checking. Importantly, increased approach motivation was not associated with more problematic use. However, both checking frequency and problematic use were related to alterations of explicit reward processing, including the subjective experience of SNS urges or wanting. We conclude that changes in automatic approach motivation towards SNS stimuli are common in most SNS users, which suggests that implicit imbuement of social media with reward has become pervasive among young adults. Problematic SNS use however may be more reliably indicated by changes in explicit reward processing, such as subjective wanting.

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Attentional bias in Internet users with problematic use of social networking sites

Cited by 39 publications

References 39 publications

Social media ‘addiction’: The absence of an attentional bias to social media stimuli

Social media ‘addiction’: The absence of an attentional bias to social media stimuli

Does Attentional Style Moderate the Relationship between Time Perspective and Social Network Addiction? A Cross-Sectional Study on a Sample of Social Networking Sites Users

The roles of implicit approach motivation and explicit reward in excessive and problematic use of social networking sites

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