Technology
Social media stress leads to online addiction
London, Aug 28
Social media users tend to tackle stress from one platform by hopping on to another leading to the risk of becoming more and more addicted to such platforms, says a new study co-conducted by Indian-origin professor.
Facebook and Instagram are known to cause stress in users. Faced with these technostress, users however refuse to shut down their device and instead shuttle between Social networking sites (SNS).
When faced with such stress, instead of switching off or using them less, people move from one aspect of the social media platforms to another, says Monideepa Tarafdar, Professor at the Lancaster University.
"While it might seem counter-intuitive, social media users are continuing to use the same platforms that are causing them stress rather than switching off from them, creating a blurring between the stress caused and the compulsive use," Tarafdar said.
Published in the Information Systems Journal, the research conducted on the habitual profile of 444 Facebook users revealed they switched between chatting to friends, scanning news feeds and posting updates as each began to cause stress.
This leads to an increased likelihood of technology addiction, as they use the various elements of the platform over a greater timespan.
Researchers found that users were seeking distraction and diversion within the Facebook platform as a coping mechanism for stress caused by the same platform, rather than switching off and undertaking a different activity.
Even when users are stressed from social networking sites use, they continue to use the same platforms to cope with that stress, diverting themselves through other activities on the platforms and ultimately building compulsive and excessive behaviour.
As a result, they embed themselves in the social network environment rather than get away from it and thus an addiction is formed.
The research team looked at various forms of technostress that invade personal life of users -- in trying to adapt to their social networking site; to conform to that of their friends; experience excessive social demands and too much social information -- thus facing constant changes and updates on the platforms.
"We found that those users who had a greater social media habit needed less effort to find another aspect of the platforms, and were thus more likely to stay within the SNS rather than switch off when they needed to divert themselves," said study researcher Sven Laumer.
Facebook and Instagram are known to cause stress in users. Faced with these technostress, users however refuse to shut down their device and instead shuttle between Social networking sites (SNS).
When faced with such stress, instead of switching off or using them less, people move from one aspect of the social media platforms to another, says Monideepa Tarafdar, Professor at the Lancaster University.
"While it might seem counter-intuitive, social media users are continuing to use the same platforms that are causing them stress rather than switching off from them, creating a blurring between the stress caused and the compulsive use," Tarafdar said.
Published in the Information Systems Journal, the research conducted on the habitual profile of 444 Facebook users revealed they switched between chatting to friends, scanning news feeds and posting updates as each began to cause stress.
This leads to an increased likelihood of technology addiction, as they use the various elements of the platform over a greater timespan.
Researchers found that users were seeking distraction and diversion within the Facebook platform as a coping mechanism for stress caused by the same platform, rather than switching off and undertaking a different activity.
Even when users are stressed from social networking sites use, they continue to use the same platforms to cope with that stress, diverting themselves through other activities on the platforms and ultimately building compulsive and excessive behaviour.
As a result, they embed themselves in the social network environment rather than get away from it and thus an addiction is formed.
The research team looked at various forms of technostress that invade personal life of users -- in trying to adapt to their social networking site; to conform to that of their friends; experience excessive social demands and too much social information -- thus facing constant changes and updates on the platforms.
"We found that those users who had a greater social media habit needed less effort to find another aspect of the platforms, and were thus more likely to stay within the SNS rather than switch off when they needed to divert themselves," said study researcher Sven Laumer.
4 minutes ago
Sundar Pichai announces $120 million ‘Global AI Opportunity Fund’
5 minutes ago
Aspirational India fuels auto loan surge as private consumption rises
10 minutes ago
Education & Health Ministry ask states to effectively implement tobacco guidelines
11 minutes ago
'One Earth, One Health': India to contribute $7.5 mn under 'Quad Cancer Moonshot' initiative, says PM Modi
12 minutes ago
‘Cancer Moonshot’ initiative begins with reducing cervical cancer burden in Indo-Pacific
13 minutes ago
Centre okays Rs 2,603 crore for wildlife habitat development scheme
14 minutes ago
India joins Brazil, Bhutan to enhance food safety, foster technical collaboration
15 minutes ago
Premier League: Palace hold Man United to goalless draw
16 minutes ago
1st Test: Ashwin, Jadeja shine in Chennai as India beat Bangladesh by 280 runs
17 minutes ago
Arsenal will be going to Manchester City to win: Bukayo Saka
18 minutes ago
INDvBAN: India name unchanged squad for Kanpur Test
19 minutes ago
Coming back to Test cricket, where I belong the most, is special, says Pant
20 minutes ago
'Time to seize the gold': Rahul Gandhi wishes Team India for Chess Olympiad's final round