User:Almaty/sandbox/Digital media use and mental health

affects women and girls mores than boys and men, and preliminary research states that it appears to affect individuals based on the social media platform used.

History and Terminology

The proposed disorder is generally defined when "excessive use damages personal, family and/or professional life" as proposed by Griffiths, a chartered psychologist focusing in the field of behavioural addictions, namely gambling disorder, gaming addiction, Internet addiction, sex addiction, and work addiction. .

Several studies have shown that women are more likely to overuse social media, and men video games. This has led multiple experts cited by Hawi and colleagues to suggest that digital media overuse may not be a singular construct, with some calling to delineate proposed disorders based on the type of digital media used.

A psychological review published in 2016 stated that "studies have also suggested a link between innate basic psychological needs and social network site addiction." "Social network site users seek feedback, and they get it from hundreds of people—instantly. It could be argued that the platforms are designed to get users “hooked”."

Proposed mechanisms A review article by Kuss and Griffiths published in 2017 noted the "cultural norm" amongst teenagers of being always on, or connected to social network sites. They remarked that this reflects young peoples "need to belong", and stay up to date, and this perpetuates a feeling of "fear of missing out" (commonly known as FOMO). Other motivations include information seeking, identity formation, as well as voyerism and cyberstalking in some groups. A smaller number of individuals can become "the single most important activity that they engage in". This can be related to Maslows hierarchy of needs, with basic human needs often met from social networking sites. Positive outcome expectations and limited self-regulation of social media use can then develop into "addictive" social media use. Further problematic use may occur when social networking sites are used to cope with psychological stress (percieved inability to cope with life demands).

Natasha Dow Schüll, a cultural anthropologist noted parallels to the gambling industry inherent in the design of various social network sites, with "“ludic loops” or repeated cycles of uncertainty, anticipation and feedback" potentially contributing to problematic social media use.

Griffiths also postulated in 2014 that social networking online may fulfil basic evolutionary drives, after mass migration to cities worldwide. After these migrations, the basic psychological needs of "secure, predictable community life that evolved over millions of years" hasn't changed, leading some to find online communities to cope with the new individualised way of life in some modern societies.

It was postulated in 2018 by Trevor Haynes, a Harvard University neurobiology research technician that social media may stimulate the reward pathway in the brain. An ex-Facebook executive, Sean Parker, has also espoused this theory.

Mental health relationships Social media addiction may present symptoms such as anxiety and depression. Frequent social media use was shown in a cohort study in 15- and 16-year-olds to have a modest association with self-reported symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder followed up over 2 years. Social media use stimulates the reward pathway in the brain, which is believed to be the basis of addiction.

Problematic social media use is associated with mental health symptoms such as anxiety and depression in children and young people. A 2019 meta-analysis investigated Facebook use and symptoms of depression showing an association, with a small effect size. Social media also may utilized in some situations to improve mood. Problematic Facebook use has also been shown in a 2018 systematic review and meta-analysis to have negative affects on well-being in adolesencts and young adults, with psychological distress being also found with problematic use. Frequent social media use was shown in a cohort study in 15- and 16-year-olds to have a modest association with self-reported symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder followed up over 2 years.

Social anxiety

Social media provides the freedom for users to openly communicate their feelings, values, and thoughts with the world. This digital world provides a communication dialog into emotions. These sites also contribute to discrimination and bullying. Those who suffer from mental illness often withdraw from communication in person and continue their communication online. Many activities and social groups are changed with the use of social media.[20] Although using social media sites satisfy personal communication needs, those who use them at a higher rate are shown to have a higher level of psychological distress.

Platform specific risks and challenges Individual studies have shown differences in motivations and patterns of behaviour amongst different social media platforms, especially in problematic use.

Assessment Seven different tools in research have been developed in an attempt to quantify or delineate social media addiction, however none have been validated or accepted universally.

A scale developed by Andreasson and colleagues proposed the following potential factors indicating possible dependence on social media:

Mood swings - the first stage, when a person feels more secure and satisfaction when using social media; Relevance - when the social network starts to dominate a persons thoughts to the detriment of other activities; Tolerance - increased time spent on the social network, when a person is looking for previous feelings associated with the site, and simultaneously losing control of the time spent Withdrawal - anxiety when users are not connected to the internet, with associated changes in sleeping or eating patterns, and signs of depression. Griffiths developed six possible components in relation to social network sites and addiction:

Salience - when social media becomes the most important part of a persons life; Mood modification - when people develop escapism, potentially feeling "high", "buzzed" or "numb" when using social media; Tolerance - when increased time spent on social media is required to develop the same moods the person experienced; Withdrawal symptoms - unpleasant feelings or physical sensations when the person is unable to use the media to the extent required; Conflict - when social media use causes conflict both in interpersonal dynamics, takes away from other activities, and becomes pervasive; Relapse - the tendency for previously affected individuals to revert to previous patterns of excessive social network site use. Treatment No established treatments exist, but from research from the related entity of internet addiction disorder, treatments have been considered, with further research needed. Screen time recommendations have been developed by the American Academy of Paediatrics for children and families.

Possible therapeutic intereventions published by Andreasson include:

Self help interventions, including application specific timers; Cognitive behavioural therapy; and Organizational and schooling support. Medications have not shown to be effective in randomised controlled trials for the related conditions of internet addiction or gaming disorder