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

Thomson, Kerry-Lynn; Hunter, Simon C.; Butler, Stephen H.; Robertson, David J.

doi:10.1556/2006.2021.00011

Cited by 24 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…However, when employing a visual search task Johannes et al [ 4 ] found no impairment in performance when SNS logos (either with or without notification signs) were used as distractors compared to non-social iPhone app controls. In line with this study but using a novel and more ecologically valid visual search task, Thomson et al [ 26 ] found no evidence that an attentional bias to SNS logos is correlated with addiction severity. However, while measures of attentional bias have so far not shown clear evidence of altered attentional processing of SNS cues (in both “regular” and compulsive users), these cues might still elicit stronger motivational responses than control cues and/or differentiate motivational responses of regular users from those of compulsive users.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 73%

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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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 73%

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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“…AB towards addiction-related cues is considered to account for the maintenance of the addiction cycle [ 20 , 25 ]. Nikolaidou et al previously found that problematic users of SM tend to show an increased AB towards SM-related stimuli [ 25 ], but contrarily, Thomson et al found that there was no special AB effect towards SM-related cues in problematic users [ 26 ]. The current study was consistent with the former finding.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Their findings support the hypothesis that the AB effect is a common underlying mechanism related to PSMU and other addictions. However, another study by Thomson et al did not provide support for the presence of the AB effect in PSMU [ 26 ]. Their study found that problematic users of SM showed no preferential attentional capture by SM apps and notifications with a visual search paradigm.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attentional Bias Is Associated with Negative Emotions in Problematic Users of Social Media as Measured by a Dot-Probe Task

Zhao

Zhou

Sun

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Objective: Social media (SM) have flourished and are affecting human lives on an unprecedented scale. Problematic social media use (PSMU) is a recently emerging problematic behavior that affects both physical and mental health. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether problematic users of SM display attentional bias (AB) toward SM-related cues, as well as the relationships between AB, the severity of PSMU, and negative emotions. Method: 1000 college students were recruited through classes and online forums and then tested using the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS). Eventually, 60 participants, identified by the cut-off point for BSMAS, consented to participate in the study and were divided into two groups (i.e., a problematic use group and a typical use group). The severity of PSMU and negative emotions (i.e., anxiety, depression, social fear, and loneliness) were evaluated by self-report questionnaires. AB was assessed by an addiction Stroop task and a dot-probe task (DPT). Results: PSMU was found to be positively associated with anxiety (r = 0.28, p < 0.05), depression (r = 0.35, p < 0.01), and social fear (r = 0.38, p < 0.01), but not with loneliness (r = 0.19, p = 0.15). Participants with a tendency toward PSMU displayed AB toward SM-related cues in the DPT [F (1, 58) = 26.77, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.32], but not in the Stroop task [F (1, 58) = 0.61, p = 0.44, ηp2 = 0.01]. Moreover, AB toward SM-related stimuli was found to be positively correlated with the severity of PSMU (r = −0.51, p < 0.001), anxiety (r = −0.37, p < 0.01), depression (r = −0.51, p < 0.001), and social fear (r = −0.30, p < 0.05) in the DPT. Conclusions: Problematic users of SM show AB towards SM-related cues in the DPT, which is more reliable for assessing AB than the Stroop task. Moreover, it is suggested that in clinical interventions we should work to change the AB towards SM-related stimuli and improve negative emotions to decrease risks of PSMU.

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“…The outbreak of COVID-19 has had negative influences on the living state and mental health of teenagers. For the prevention and control of the epidemic, social interaction was forced to transfer online from offline (1), and it induced some negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, and stress (2,3). To relieve negative emotion, most teenagers choose Internet games to cope.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anxiety, Depression, and Stress Are Associated With Internet Gaming Disorder During COVID-19: Fear of Missing Out as a Mediator

Wang

Liu²,

Zhang³

et al. 2022

Front. Psychiatry

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BackgroundMany teenagers suffered negative emotional states, especially anxiety and depression, during the COVID-19 outbreak, and most teenagers choose Internet games to cope with negative emotion. Previous evidence indicated that fear of missing out is related with anxiety and depression in teenagers with Internet gaming disorder, but it is unclear how fear of missing out influences depression, anxiety, or stress.MethodsBased on an I-PACE model, using Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21), Fear of Missing Out Scale, and Internet Gaming Addiction Scale, and 324 middle school students as participants, this study explored the mediating effect of fear of missing out on depression, anxiety, or stress and Internet gaming disorder.ResultsThe results showed that depression and stress are significantly related to Internet gaming disorder through the partial mediating of fear of missing out. Anxiety is not significantly related to Internet gaming disorder through the full mediating of fear of missing out, and anxiety and stress have a greater predictive effect on Internet gaming disorder through fear of missing out. Results also demonstrated that students who play Honor of Kings or Player Unknown's Battlegrounds have more risk to develop Internet gaming disorder.ConclusionsThe results indicated that fear of missing out as a mediator regulates the relationship among depression, anxiety, and stress and Internet game disorder. Specifically, under the mediation of fear of missing out, teenagers with anxiety are more likely to develop Internet gaming disorder, while teenagers with depression or stress might be prone to other types of Internet use disorders.

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

Cited by 24 publications

References 58 publications

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

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

Attentional Bias Is Associated with Negative Emotions in Problematic Users of Social Media as Measured by a Dot-Probe Task

Anxiety, Depression, and Stress Are Associated With Internet Gaming Disorder During COVID-19: Fear of Missing Out as a Mediator

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