Abstract
ABSTRACT The internet has fundamentally changed the way in which individuals interact with news. Unfortunately, research suggests a growing number of people have become addicted to online news, resulting in negative consequences. In this research, we examine this phenomenon through the lens of social identity theory. We posit that, for some individuals, the identity adopted through group memberships becomes central to their daily life. This, along with fear of missing out and lack of trust in one’s social network, lead to online news addiction. Our findings confirm this view and offer new insights for why users overconsume online news. Our contributions are threefold. First, we provide a theoretically grounded explanation of online news addiction based on social identity theory. Second, our multidimensional conceptualization of social identity combined with centrality provides a nuanced pattern for future addiction studies. Finally, we identify factors which may be used to curb online news addiction.
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