Media use patterns and depressive symptoms in later life: the mediating effects of loneliness and cognitive function.

Prolonged time spent on social media use (SMU) can negatively impact mental health. The present experimental and longitudinal study (randomized controlled trial design, RCT) on social media (SM) users in Germany ( N total = 443) investigated how to reduce this negative effect. For 14 days, the SM group ( N = 124) reduced its daily SMU by 30 minutes, the mindfulness group ( N = 100) engaged daily in mindfulness exercises, the combination group ( N = 115) followed both interventions, and the control group ( N = 104) did not change its behavior. Online surveys assessed SMU-related variables and mental health-related variables at six measurement time points (baseline, intermediate, post-intervention, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up). The three experimental conditions resulted in a significant decrease of fear of missing out (FoMO), SM flow, addictive SMU, and stress symptoms. The reduction of SMU time and its combination with mindfulness exercises contributed to a decrease of depressive symptoms and an increase of life satisfaction and positive mental health. Many of the positive effects were stronger in the long-term than in the short-term. Moreover, for most investigated variables, the positive effects were stronger in the combination group than in the single condition groups, especially in the long-term. The present findings reveal that a combination of a conscious and controlled reduction of daily SMU time and the engagement in mindfulness exercises could serve as a time- and cost-efficient low-threshold intervention in public mental health programs and therapeutic context.

High suicide rates pose a serious public health concern across many countries worldwide. This trend has occurred alongside an increase in addictive social media use (SMU). The present longitudinal study investigated the relationship between suicide-related outcomes and addictive SMU and the mechanisms that could underlie their association across three adult groups: younger adults (18-34years), middle-aged adults (35-64years) and older adults (65years and older). Data of 3067 social media (SM) users (younger group: N=294, middle-aged group: N=2062, older group: N=711) from the German general population were collected via online surveys at three measurement time points over six months (baseline, BL; four-month follow-up, FU1; six-month follow-up, FU2). The present findings revealed that addictive SMU (BL), depressive symptoms (FU1) and suicide-related outcomes (FU2) were significantly higher in the younger group than in the middle-aged and the older group, and they were significantly higher in the middle-aged group than in the older group. In each group, the three investigated variables were significantly positively correlated. Moreover, depressive symptoms (FU1) mediated the link between addictive SMU (BL) and suicide-related outcomes (FU2). Thus, persons of all ages could be at risk for suicide-related outcomes when they engage in excessive SMU and experience depressive symptoms. Practical implications for preventing suicide-related outcomes in the digital age are discussed.

This study investigated the correlation between excessive exposure to digital media in the formative years and how children respond to the schooling environment in Nigeria. This study employed the correlational research design. The study sample involved 150 primary school pupils. The instrument for the study “digital media usage, types of digital media, and response” was used for data collection. The research questions were answered with Pearson product moment correlation, while hypotheses were tested with linear regression. The study revealed a statistically significant negative correlation between digital media use and how children respond to the schooling environment in Nigeria, as well as a positive relationship between the type of digital media use and how children respond to the schooling environment in Nigeria. Founded on the findings, the study recommended that parents should encourage a healthy mix of activities. Limit screen time, designate media-free zones, and promote activities like reading, outdoor play, and face-to-face socializing; schools should integrate technology strategically to enhance classroom learning. Explore educational apps, games, and online resources suitable to different learning styles. The government should consider developing age-appropriate guidelines for healthy digital media utilization in partnership with educators, parents, and health professionals.

The increasing use of the Internet and social media has led to growing concerns about their impact on mental health, particularly among young people. Different studies have shown that young adults are susceptible to digital addiction across different parts of the globe. This study aimed to compare digital addiction (symptoms, nomophobia, and daily digital media usage) and mental health-related variables (anxiety, depressive symptoms, loneliness, and self-esteem) in 773 university students from Spain and Indonesia (Mage=20.31, SD=2.54). They completed an online survey, with the following measures: Addiction Risk to Social Networks and Internet Scale (AR-SNIS), Social Anxiety Scale (SAS-A), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10), and UCLA Loneliness Scale, as well as one question regarding daily digital media usage. The results showed significant correlations between the variables, and that Indonesian participants showed more addiction symptoms (U=38,970.5, p<.001), nomophobia (U=33,436, p<.001), daily digital media usage (c2=41.17, df=3, p<.001), anxiety (U=40,885, p<.001) and loneliness (U=54,358, p<.001) than the Spanish sample, who showed lower self-esteem (U=42,286, p<.001). This comparative study between two countries that represent diverse cultural contexts aimed to provide insights into the structural and situational factors of digital addiction and its impact on mental health. Early identification of problematic behaviors associated with digital addiction may prevent the development of future psychological consequences and promote interventions for healthy digital use.

Beyond the scroll: Unmasking the simultaneous role of psychosomatic and stressors behind social media users’ disempowerment and disengagement

ABSTRACT For democratic societies, forums of political discussions are needed to exchange opinions which nowadays can be found in social media. Still, in line with theoretical assumptions of the privacy calculus, benefits of political expression in social media also come with risks of privacy invasions, both affecting people’s expression behavior. To better understand the longitudinal between- and within-person dynamics of anticipating costs and benefits when expressing political opinions online, this study uses a three-wave-longitudinal survey to analyze the reciprocal relationships between privacy concerns, political expression, as well as expected cost and benefits in social media. Results indicated that when individuals are more concerned than usual about data collection by companies or governments (i.e. vertical privacy concerns), they express political opinions less frequently. In contrast, heightened concerns about misuse by other social media users (i.e. horizontal privacy concerns) are associated with more frequent political expression. In terms of users’ weighing of costs and benefits, we found that while frequent opinion expressors see the benefit of persuading others in social media, non-expressors are inhibited by assuming that their opinion expression might be a waste of time. This suggests that people’s political expression online is not solely driven by abstract privacy concerns but by very specific worries about who will use their opinionated message and with which consequences.

ABSTRACT Despite the widespread use of social media among adolescents, there has been limited research on its impact on risky sexual behaviors, which can have long-lasting consequences, especially for young girls. This study investigated the link between social media use and risky sexual behaviors among female adolescents. Participants (n = 5,468) were high school girls who reported their social media use and risky sexual behaviors in the 2023 Youth Behavior Risk Survey. Chi-squared tests and log-binomial regression models were used for analysis, with a sensitivity analysis performed using the same approach in SAS 9.4 (p < .05). Frequent social media users were more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors and reported a higher number of such behaviors compared to non-frequent users. This association between social media use and risky sexual behaviors reinforces the need for systemic interventions within schools, like school-based media literacy programs and comprehensive sex education, and intervention from school counselors. This study provides valuable insights for school counselors and shares CBT, ACT, and mindfulness skills to help adolescents challenge distorted beliefs and build resilience.

The use of social media as a source of information before purchasing, especially by Generation Z and Millennials who dominate the Indonesian local skincare market, requires brands to manage Social Media Marketing Activities effectively in order to influence Purchase Intention amidst the dynamics of rapidly changing digital trends. This study aims to analyze the influence of Social Media Marketing Activities on Purchase Intention with Relationship Quality, Brand Awareness, and Perceived Value of Generation Z and Millennial consumers in the Indonesian local skincare industry. This study uses a quantitative approach with a dare survey method to 207 respondents of social media users in the Jabodetabek area who have seen or engaged such as following, liking, commenting, or sharing social media content from local Indonesian skincare accounts, namely Somethinc, Azarine, Wardah. The analysis technique uses the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) method through SmartPLS 4 software. The results of this study indicate that Social Media Marketing Activity, Relationship Quality, Brand Awareness, and Perceived Value have a significant positive effect on Purchase Intention. These findings provide insight into the importance of social media marketing activities that can build emotional bonds, enhance brand recognition, and shape perceived value, thus increasing purchase intention. Companies are advised to strengthen perceived value through content that demonstrates superior product value and responsive interactions on social media to increase purchase intention.

This study aims to analyze the extent to which social engineering influences data leaks among social media users in Indonesia and to identify the factors that increase their vulnerability. A quantitative approach was used in this study by distributing an online questionnaire to 325 respondents who are active social media users from various backgrounds. Regression analysis shows that exposure to social engineering, particularly phishing and impersonation techniques, has a significant influence on the likelihood of data leaks. In addition, the level of information security awareness was found to moderate this relationship. This study concludes that personal data leaks are not only caused by technical weaknesses, but also by human factors that can be manipulated psychologically. The implications of this study suggest the need to improve digital security literacy, provide advanced security features on social media platforms, and strengthen personal data protection regulations in Indonesia.

ABSTRACT At a critical moment in history, the Hutchins Commission (1947) was convened to assess the role of the free press in a democratic society, articulating the social responsibility theory of the press. Nearly 80 years later, social media have become a part of everyday life for people around the world. More people than ever can now create, disseminate, analyze, and filter information to reach a broad public, with huge consequences for public information, but little attention to the role users play in shaping information on social media and the responsibility that comes with it. This study examines what the affordances of social media platforms, such as “frictionless” design and endless scroll, communicate to users about their roles and responsibilities, focusing on two of the most popular platforms, Instagram and Facebook. Role theory is used as a framework to understand how users might interpret their roles and responsibilities, as communicated by the platforms’ affordances. The social responsibility theory of the press is applied to understand how we might reconsider the responsibilities of social media users in democratic societies, focusing on the role users play in shaping the information others see and how they might be made more aware of that role.

ABSTRACT With the increasing application of virtual robots in contemporary digital society, virtual influencers have appeared and rapidly gained popularity among young generations. To continuously expand social influence, virtual influencers are motivated to produce fashionable, life-sharing, thoughtful content like real human influencers. However, it remains unclear whether virtual influencers will change the interaction patterns of social media users. Consequently, this study utilises secondary data from the Instagram platform to conduct an empirical analysis, exploring the relationship between two types of anthropomorphism (physical and mental) that virtual influencers exhibit in their posts and online user engagement. The results show that mental anthropomorphism is positively connected with emotional and target cognitive engagement, while physical anthropomorphism is positively associated with behavioural engagement. In addition, perceived eeriness significantly mediates the effects of anthropomorphism type on both emotional and target cognitive engagement. The findings provide important managerial insights for designers and researchers of virtual influencers.

Social media usage for radiology education: A one-month 2025 global survey.

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between consumers’ social media use, fear of missing out (FOMO), and impulsive buying behavior within the context of cultural differences. The current study tested a theoretical framework that evaluated the influence of a set of social media usage, fear of missing out, and impulsive buying behavior. The research was conducted through a survey of 700 university students in Istanbul and Bremen. The findings indicate that social media use and FOMO are positively and significantly associated with impulsive buying behavior. Moreover, students in Turkey were found to have higher levels of impulsive buying compared to those in Germany. However, the main limitation of the study is that the sample consists solely of university students, which restricts the generalizability of the results. This study contributes to the literature by comparatively revealing the impact of digital interactions and cultural factors on consumer behavior.

The China-Pakistan financial hall CPEC is a very essential mission of China's Belt and avenue assignment (BRI), it goals to decorate connectivity and monetary cooperation between China and Pakistan. It became initiated in 2015, it includes infrastructure, power, and industrial projects. It has numerous key additives consist of highways, railways, and the improvement of Gwadar Port. CPEC ambitions to improve Pakistan's infrastructure, decorate electricity production, and create monetary possibilities whilst offering China with a shorter exchange course to the middle East and Africa. Although geopolitical and financial challenges, CPEC remains a very important of China and Pakistani relations, fostering regional trade and development. Throughout my research I measured several indicators such as social media usage, misinformation, public trust and the use of free digital services that influence public perception on CPEC. I collected 300 responses from students of university of Sargodha, Pakistan through closed ended questionnaire survey. Their responses played an important role to understand the real time scenario.

The increasing use of social media among young people has raised concerns about its impact on mental health. This study examines the impact of social media usage and mental health outcomes among youth, with a particular focus on students at the University of Benin. The study investigates both the positive and negative effects of social media, including its role in fostering social connectivity, academic engagement, and access to information, as well as its contribution to stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and cyberbullying. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 250 students, with data collected using a structured questionnaire. The findings reveal that while social media enhances communication and provides emotional support, it also contributes to negative psychological effects such as social comparison, exposure to misinformation, and cyber harassment. A significant number of respondents reported feeling stressed and anxious due to prolonged exposure to negative content on social media, while many also acknowledged the role of financial difficulties and societal expectations in exacerbating mental health challenges. The study highlights the need for greater awareness of the potential risks of social media use and the importance of digital literacy in mitigating these effects. It also calls for improved mental health support services within educational institutions to help students cope with social media-induced stress. The study therefore recommends promoting responsible social media use, increasing mental health education, and implementing stricter content regulation policies by social media platforms. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on social media and mental health, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to social media use to protect the psychological well-being of young people

The penetration of digital technology over the past two decades has transformed patterns of public consumption, including in Biak Numfor Regency. This study aims to critically examine how exposure to fast fashion advertising on digital platforms reproduces the mechanisms of the culture industry and instrumental rationality as conceptualized by Max Horkheimer, and how these processes shape public consciousness, preferences, and consumption practices. This research employs a descriptive qualitative approach, with data collected through in-depth interviews with purposively selected informants and observations of social media usage patterns. The findings indicate that Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and TikTok Shop serve as the primary channels for the dissemination of fast fashion advertisements. The high frequency of advertisement exposure, particularly following search or purchase activities, demonstrates the operation of algorithmic personalization as a manifestation of instrumental rationality within digital capitalism. From a Critical Theory perspective, this condition represents the transformation of the culture industry into the digital sphere, where platforms not only market products but also construct false needs and normalize rapid consumption as part of a modern lifestyle. The study further reveals that exposure to fast fashion advertising contributes to the commodification of identity and the reproduction of consumerist values, gradually shifting the community’s collective orientation toward individualistic and symbolic logic. Clothing is no longer understood merely as a functional necessity but as a means of social legitimation mediated by platform capitalism. These findings affirm the subtle operation of ideological domination through digital media and underscore the importance of strengthening critical literacy in responding to the expansion of global consumer culture.

This study examined direct and indirect (media-exposed) posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) of the February 6, 2023, earthquakes in southeastern Türkiye as well as the traumatic impact on cognitive functioning. This was assessed by using self-report measures and by a specifically developed Modified Emotional Stroop Task for Earthquake Trauma, a neuropsychological tool adapted for the Turkish population. A total of 83 university students participated, including 41 who directly experienced the earthquakes and 42 who were indirectly exposed. Participants completed the PTSD Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition and the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale for Social Media Users and then performed the Modified Emotional Stroop Task for Earthquake Trauma, consisting of earthquake-related and matched-neutral words aligned with the Turkish sociocultural context. The findings of the Modified Emotional Stroop Task for Earthquake Trauma revealed no significant differences in reaction times based on word type, earthquake exposure, or the interaction between these variables. However, participants who were indirectly exposed to the earthquake demonstrated significantly higher accuracy with matched-neutral words. Strikingly, both groups showed similarly high PTSD Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition scores. Additionally, among indirectly exposed participants, PTSD Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition and Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale for Social Media Users scores were moderately and positively correlated. These results suggest that indirect exposure to the earthquakes may be as psychologically traumatic as direct exposure. This is not only the first study in Türkiye to focus specifically on the cognitive effects of earthquake exposure, using a neuropsychological tool developed for a specific purpose, but also an important study to reveal how indirect traumatic impact is very similar to the direct trauma effects in terms of the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Social media nowadays is not a new thing to society, especially among teenagers. Excessive use of social media can lead to addiction. Adolescents who are addicted can adversely affect the fulfillment of ADL. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the use of social media activities with ADL fulfillment in adolescents in East Java. The research design was observational analytic with a population of 2,827,275 adolescents in East Java and a sample of 139 adolescents aged 12-25 years selected using the proportionate stratified sampling technique. The variables consist of activities using social media and fulfilling ADL. The measuring instrument used is the SIPMS questionnaire and the ADL fulfillment questionnaire. Test analysis using Spearmen Rho (Sig. 0.05) The results showed that most of the adolescents used social media in the medium intensity category as many as 97 people (69,3%) and 92 people (65,7%). The results showed that there was a unidirectional relationship between the use of social media activities and the fulfillment of ADL in adolescents = 0.000 with the results of r = 0.424. The use of social media with high intensity does not have a negative impact on the fulfillment of ADL adolescents. The role of health workers and education personnel is to provide education to adolescents about efficient time management so that ADL can be fulfilled properly even with a high intensity of social media use.

Information and Communication Technology has developed extremely rapidly, especially for social media. Such development can lead to increased dependence on electronic devices influencing adolescent mental health. The purpose of the study was to analyze the relationship between social media usage and adolescent mental health in SMP Negeri 2 Jombang. In this study, the correlation analytic quantitative research design with the cross-sectional approach was utilized. There were 320 in total students, and 76 students were the sample by the cluster random sampling technique. Statistical tests were performed by Spearman's Rank. There were 57.9% students who experienced mild social media addiction. Simultaneously, 38.2% of students experienced mild depressive symptoms. The Spearman's Rank statistical test analysis findings revealed (ρ) = 0.000 &lt; (α) 0.05, which confirms that teen mental health is correlated with social media use. The value of r is 0.402, and the level of correlation is moderate. Social media use and teen health were related as the more frequently one used social media, the greater the possibilities that they would be affected by seeing others' success, bodies, and lifestyles and become possible stressors leading to depression or mental illnesses. Preventive and promotive measures were needed for the early detection of mental disorders in adolescents to avert more complex mental health problems.