The uses and abuses of Facebook: A review of Facebook addiction

By Tracii Ryan, Andrea Chester, J. Reece, Sophia Xenos. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 2014

625 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Abstract Background and aims: Recent research suggests that use of social networking sites can be addictive for some individuals. Due to the link between motivations for media use and the development of addiction, this systematic review examines Facebook-related uses and gratifications research and Facebook addiction research. Method: Searches of three large academic databases revealed 24 studies examining the uses and gratifications of Facebook, and nine studies of Facebook addiction. Results: Comparison of uses and gratifications research reveals that the most popular mo- tives for Facebook use are relationship maintenance, passing time, entertainment, and companionship. These motivations may be related to Facebook addiction through use that is habitual, excessive, or motivated by a desire for mood alteration. Examination of Facebook addiction research indicates that Facebook use can become habitual or excessive, and some addicts use the site to escape from negative moods. However, examination of Facebook addic- tion measures highlights inconsistency in the field. Discussion: There is some evidence to support the argument that uses and gratifications of Facebook are linked with Facebook addiction. Furthermore, it appears as if the social skill model of addiction may explain Facebook addiction, but inconsistency in the measurement of this condition limits the ability to provide conclusive arguments. Conclusions: This paper recommends that further research be performed to establish the links between uses and gratifications and Facebook addiction. Furthermore, in order to enhance the construct validity of Facebook addiction, researchers should take a more systematic approach to assessment.

Subfields: Clinical Psychology, Social Psychology, Sociology and Political Science

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/bfe96702f9f3de44672ebe03ac13d6bde582e725

How researchers see this paper

The researchers whose trusted networks rank it highest, strongest advocate first. Every researcher gets a different order.

In Clinical Psychology

In Social Psychology

In Sociology and Political Science

Citations in the corpus

Love me Tinder: Untangling emerging adults' motivations for using the dating application Tinder (2017, positive): “These studies also found that entertainment reasons drive social media use (Foregger, 2008; HarridgeMarch, Dunne, Lawlor, & Rowley, 2010; Mull & Lee, 2014; Ryan et al., 2014).”
The Social Media Disorder Scale (2016, neutral): “There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that social media disorder (i.e. addiction) is an emerging mental problem, particularly among adolescents (Pantic, 2014; Ryan et al., 2014).”
Habits and the electronic herd: The psychology behind social media’s successes and failures (2020, background): “For example, in an evaluation of the basis of Facebook addiction, Ryan et al.’s (2014) review concluded that addictive use is tied to the experience of such gratifications as maintaining relationships and passing time.”
The relationship between addictive use of social media, narcissism, and self-esteem: Findings from a large national survey. (2017, background): “Again, this has good face validity as sites that promote social interaction may represent ground for meeting potential partners, or serving as an important social function along with feelings of belongingness (Andreassen, Torsheim, & Pallesen, 2014; Ryan et al., 2014).”
The Relations Among Social Media Addiction, Self-Esteem, and Life Satisfaction in University Students (2017, background): “…and validated measurement instruments and confirmed that social media addiction is real, as users exhibit most of the symptoms of behavioral addiction including tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, salience, relapse, and mood modification (Andreassen, 2015; Griffiths et al., 2014; Ryan et al., 2014).”
Analyzing the Links Between Problematic Social Media Use, Dark Triad Traits, and Self-esteem (2018, background): “As the theoretical models and empirical studies indicate, the use of social media sites differs in many aspects such as purpose, frequency, and behaviors according to individual characteristics (Brand et al. 2016; Ryan et al. 2014).”
The relationship between addictive use of social media and video games and symptoms of psychiatric disorders: A large-scale cross-sectional study. (2016, background): “Most empirical studies into addictive technological behaviors rely on small and/or nonrepresentative samples, often surveying college and university students (Andreassen, 2015; Ryan et al., 2014), with few exceptions (e.g., Koronczai et al., 2011).”
Uses and Gratifications of Problematic Social Media Use Among University Students: a Simultaneous Examination of the Big Five of Personality Traits, Social Media Platforms, and Social Media Use Motives (2018, background): “At the same time, it is emphasized that the motivation underlying the use of each platform may be different because the majority of the research to date concentrates on Facebook use (Ryan et al. 2014).”
Personality, motives and metacognitions as predictors of problematic Facebook Use in university students (2016, background): “Recent reviews focused on Facebook (Kuss & Griffiths, 2011; Ryan et al., 2014) have revealed that there is an increasing number of scientific outputs highlighting possible predictors of PFU (e.”