Abstract
Everyone benefits from social networking as a daily tool, but there are potential addictions. However, little is known about the craving and excitability of social networking sites addiction, and mode of change in psychological craving. The study consisted of two experiments that used a cue-reactivity paradigm to study the cravings and excitement of social networking sites (SNSs) addiction and the changing regulars in cravings. Sixty subjects were divided into a high-score group and a low-score group. In Experiment 1, all subjects evaluated word clues. The results showed that the SNS-related clues only induced the craving and excitability of the high-score group, but not the low-score group, and the craving fluctuated. Furthermore, in Experiment 2, image clues were used. The results showed that the craving induced by an image clue is significantly higher than the craving induced by a word clue, and there is no difference in excitability. Taken together, our findings suggest the SNS-related stimulation, especially image clues, could significantly induce subjects for the craving and excitability of social networks, and the craving fluctuates.
Highlights
The development of communication technology and the rapidly increasing use of smartphones and computers have made the Internet an indispensable part of modern society
Comparing the changes in the psychological cravings of the two groups, the results showed that there was no significant difference in the psychological craving between the two groups when presented with neutral stimuli, but in the presentation of clue stimuli, the high-score group showed a gradual upward trend after the second test, and the low-score group approached no change (Figure 3)
This study shows that social networking sites (SNSs) addiction and other addictive disorders have a similar generation mechanism
Summary
The development of communication technology and the rapidly increasing use of smartphones and computers have made the Internet an indispensable part of modern society. Social networking sites represent an important form of network activity with an exponential rise in usage since 1997. Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) has received increased attention, and SNS addiction is considered one of the five types of IAD (Young, 1999, 2017). This paper uses the Andreassen’s (2015) definition of SNS addiction: “being overly concerned about SNSs, to be driven by a strong motivation to log on to or use SNSs, and to devote so much time and effort to SNSs that impair other social activities, studies/jobs, interpersonal relationships, and/or psychological health and well-being.”
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