Exploring the Phenomenon of Social Media Addiction among Adolescents and the Efficacy of Related Treatments

Abstract

The purpose of this literature review was to compile and review all the most recent evidence for exploring the phenomenon of social media addiction among adolescents and the efficacy of related treatments. This review was conducted by identifying all the essential studies performed since the last comprehensive review from 2011 and examining the findings to enable an up to date resource for use in the analysis to be created. Studies were sourced by searching through all databases specific to this specialist area and by examining the articles published in relation to social media sites, social network sites, adolescents, addiction and efficacy of treatment method such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy, interpersonal therapy, medication, and clinical treatment (Przepiorka, Blachnio, Miziak, & Czuczwar, 2014; Cabral, 2011). The review also identifies that social media addiction is often as a result of fear of missing out (FOMO), self-esteem, and salience (Riordan, Flett, Hunter, Scarf, & Conner, 2015). The main conclusion of this review is that the social media used by adolescents is increasing rapidly (Lenhart, 2015) leading to potential addiction and highlights the need for continued comprehensive research within this area is beneficial to clinical psychologists, educationist and parents to identify the efficacy of available treatment and intervention programs (Przepiorka et al., 2014; Cabral, 2011). The most efficacious treatment is CBT, but clinical and medicinal use can also be accompanied CBT.

Introduction

Kuss and Griffiths (2011) were among the earliest researchers to research social networking, particularly focusing on whether adolescents were addicted to Facebook, one of the examples of social media available currently. 24% of teens reportedly go online regularly while 92% of teens go online on a daily basis while approximately 56% go online several times a day (Lenhart, 2015). Therefore, this reveals that indeed those in their adolescent ages are more likely to become social media addicts. Stone (2012) defined social media addiction as the persistent and compulsive use of social media in the face of a progressively adverse life consequences. According to Stone (2012), it is difficult to define who a social media addict is, and therefore, it is difficult to conclude who might be addicted. However, Stone (2012) pointed out the fact that a person enjoys being active online especially on social networking sites does not make him or her an addict. Instead, it is when the person feels a strong need to be on social media that he cannot control. (Senormanci et al., 2014). For example, the individual said to have an addiction to social media can be checking their phone constantly for Facebook or Instagram notifications, which is a sign that they may be suffering from social media addiction (Senormanci et al., 2014). Additionally, those addicted to social media may feel in a low mood when you do have access to social media and spend time to broadcasting, blogging, posting selfie and activities on social media are signs (Senormanci et al., 2014). In addition, according to Walop (2017), addicts can also check comments on social media immediately they wake up, posting on Facebook while trying to read children bedtime stories, liking your posts and making them favourite, looking for notifications while visiting the lavatory, one cannot get through the main course of a meal without checking their Instagram and Facebook, or even hashtagging in regular conversations among other signs. In essence, social media addiction is often as a result of fear of missing out (FOMO), self-esteem, and salience (Riordan, Flett, Hunter, Scarf, & Conner, 2015).

As such, it can be derived that social media addiction is similar to social networking addiction, a phrase that is used in referring to a person that spends too much time using social media sites, including Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook among other social media forms, that it consequently interferes with other aspects of daily life (Su et al. 2011; Cabral 2011; Andreassen et al. 2017; Kuss & Griffiths, 2011; Wood et al. 2016; Tang & Koh, 2017; Brand et al. 2014; Pontes et al. 2015, Griffiths, 2012, Przepiorka et al. 2014; O'Keeffe & Clarke-Pearson, 2011). Even though there is no official medical recognition that social media addiction/social networking addiction as a disorder or disease, the cluster of behaviors that are associated with excessive use of social media has become a subject of research and discussion. Social media addiction or social networking addiction fall under the umbrella of internet addiction, a broader term that is used in defining various internet-related problems, including excessive internet gaming, surfing, and social networking (Pontes, Kuss, & Griffiths, 2015; Mak et al., 2014; Kuss, van Rooij, Shorter, Griffiths, & van de Mheen, 2013).

One of the main aims of theories is to explain a hypothesis (Griffiths, 2013). The current review uses the psychology theory to explore the concept of social media addiction and the efficacy of the associated treatment options. The primary hypothesis is that social media addiction is a psychological disorder that needs effective treatment and thereby avert the conditions adverse effects on an individual. Psychology theory is used in this review primarily because social media addiction can result in adverse psychological symptoms arising from the inability to differentiate reality and virtual relationship, validation of self through others and fabricated of society present on social media presence (O'Keeffe & Clarke-Pearson, 2011). In essence, Echeburua and de Corral (2010) opined that individuals addicted to the use of social networking sites suffer from an addiction similar to individuals addicted to drugs and substances or other behaviors. Besides, Kuss and Griffiths (2011) recognized the hypothesis that young and vulnerable individuals characterized by narcissistic tendencies are usually prone to using social media sites in an addictive manner. As such, since social media can lead to addiction, it is necessary to look into the treatment options available. Therefore, it is paramount to explore treatment options. The options that will be explored from the literature review samples include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy, interpersonal therapy, medication, and clinical treatment among other interventions as well as the efficacy of each of these treatment options in relation to the problems as per the study samples (Przepiorka, Blachnio, Miziak, & Czuczwar, 2014; Cabral, 2011).

Early studies relating to internet addiction only explained different levels of addiction to the internet, such as surfing and gaming; however, research on social media/ networking addiction is lacking (Echeburua & de Corral, 2010). Besides, early studies did not consider the efficacy of the various treatment options, including Kuss and Griffiths (2011). Past research work has only explained different levels of addiction in social networking sites. However, researches on social media addiction are lacking. Most research failed to mention the reasons which have contributed to these dependencies, and there has been no research of co-occurrence with other types of addictive behavior (Kuss & Griffiths, 2011). In essence, there is a likelihood that social media/networking addiction has a co-occurrence with other addictions, including internet gaming, surfing, food addiction, shopping addiction, and both food and shopping addiction (Tang & Koh, 2017). Tang and Koh (2017) also highlight that social media addiction has comorbidity affective disorders such as depression, and mania, anxiety.

The gaps in the research include a lack of analysis on the efficacy of the treatment choices for social media addiction, lack of analysis that focusses on adolescents and limited studies that use methodologies that combined both qualitative and quantitative methods, such as use of single methodology (Przepiorka et al., 2014; Cabral, 2011). The proposal for future research includes addressing these gaps as well as focus on the different levels of addiction in adolescents. The strength of the research is that it can recommend most effective ways of dealing with addiction among adolescents backed by research. As a review addressing these gaps has not been conducted, the current review will form a basis for future research on social media addiction. Future research should focus on other age groups, such as social media addiction of young adults, as well as the treatment options. In essence, these are gaps that have been left primarily because research has mainly focused on teens and millennial age groups (Lenhart, 2015). As such, since social media can lead to addiction, it is necessary to look into the treatment options available. Therefore, it is paramount to explore treatment options. The options that will be explored from the literature review samples include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy, interpersonal therapy, medication, and clinical treatment among other interventions as well as the efficacy of each of these treatment options about the problems as per the study samples.

The review will hopefully gather together the information for future use by linking addiction to social media and effective treatment options. Therefore, the primary objective of the review is establishing the problem of social media addiction and highlighting the efficacy of the various treatment options, which include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy, interpersonal therapy, medication, and clinical treatment among other interventions (Przepiorka et al., 2014; Cabral, 2011). Conclusions will be drawn from the logical inferences made from the in-depth analysis of the acquired data. The review will then form its conclusion and establish whether there is indeed addiction to social media among adolescents. Also, it will also attempt to establish efficacy and effectiveness of the various treatment methodologies.

Review Methods

This review aims to analyze data and findings from the various articles and studies to establish the efficacy of treatment. The review includes a mixed methodology of both the qualitative and the quantitative analysis which encompasses qualitative and quantitative methods. For instance, Su, Fang, Miller, and Wang (2011), Cabral (2011), Andreassen, Pallesen, and Griffiths (2017), Kuss & Griffiths (2011), Wood, Center, and Parenteau (2016), Tang and Koh (2017).,moreover, Brand, Laier, and Young (2014) used quantitative methodologies while Pontes, Kuss, and Griffiths (2015), Griffiths (2012), Przepiorka et al. (2014), and O'Keeffe and Clarke-Pearson (2011) used qualitative methodologies.

As this literature review is targeted at social media addiction among adolescents, the review methods utilized in this review were conducted with two main focus. One to highlight the problem of social media/networking addiction, which is widespread among teens and adolescents. The other is the treatment options and the efficacy of the various psychotherapies available that can effectively and efficiently deal with the addiction to social media. The main objective is establishing the problem of social media addiction among adolescents and highlighting the efficacy of the various treatment options to assist with future research, especially for other age groups, including young adults.

Inclusion Criteria

The inclusion criteria for selecting articles for review include those articles that were published from 2010 onwards as well as those that cover inter...