Abstract
Background: Previous literature suggests that increased usage of social networking sites (SNSs) can have a detrimental effect on mental wellbeing [1,2]. Furthermore, increased SNS usage has been found to result in the development of a new behavioral addiction: SNS addiction [3]. This new form of addiction to social networking is shown to predict depression in users of SNSs [4,5]. Objective: As the rates of people who use SNSs are rising, the current study aimed to identify relationships between SNS usage, SNS addiction and depression, with a focus on SNSs used today that have not been researched before, namely Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat. Methods: A cross-sectional online study was conducted on a sample of 103 young adults. Each participant filled out a questionnaire consisting of the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies of Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R), Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT), along with general questions relating to SNS use. Results: The results of the current study suggest that Instagram use (β = .24, p ≤ .05) and SNS addiction (β = .32, p = .001) were significant predictors of depression. The results also showed that Instagram use predicted SNS addiction (β = .22, p < .05). No such relationship existed between Facebook, Twitter or Snapchat and SNS addiction or depression. Conclusion: The results indicated that both Instagram use and SNS addiction were related to depression, and that Instagram use was related to SNS addiction. Results are explained from a uses and gratifications perspective. Further research using longitudinal designs is needed to establish the direction of this relationship.
Highlights
Since their emergence, social networking sites (SNS) such as Facebook, MySpace, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat have attracted billions of users worldwide
The results of the current study suggest that Instagram use (β = .24, p ≤ .05) and SNS addiction (β = .32, p = .001) were significant predictors of depression
The results showed that Instagram use predicted SNS addiction (β = .22, p < .05)
Summary
Social networking sites (SNS) such as Facebook, MySpace, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat have attracted billions of users worldwide. Griffiths [9] has laid out definitive features of addictive behavior and what he believes are the six core components of addiction which can be linked to SNS addiction, as suggested by previous research [8]: (1) salience (i.e., preoccupation with online social networking sites), (2) mood modification (i.e., the subjective feelings experienced when using social networking sites), (3) tolerance (i.e., increasing use of online social networking sites in order to produce the moodmodifying effects), (4) withdrawal symptoms (i.e., dysphoria when unable to engage in online social network sites), (5) conflict (i.e., social networking site use leads to conflict between a person and those around them, and within themselves), and (6) relapse (i.e., returning to the old behaviour after a period of abstinence from social networking sites) [9]. This new form of addiction to social networking is shown to predict depression in users of SNSs [4,5]
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