Date Created: 07/07/2024
Topic: Social Media Disorder Scale
Social media disorder among adolescents is a growing concern, as it affects mental health, academic performance, and social interactions.
The Internet Gaming Disorder scale from the DSM-V offers a template to measure this disorder, incorporating criteria such as preoccupation, tolerance, escape, persistence, withdrawal, conflict, problems, deception, and displacement.
In a study involving 724 adolescents, these measures have been found to have good reliability. This scale provides a comprehensive framework to understand the various dimensions of social media addiction. By assessing behaviors linked to these criteria, clinicians can better identify those at risk and develop targeted interventions.
Evaluating the items on the scale highlights the complexity of social media addiction.
Preoccupation reflects the excessive thoughts about social media, while tolerance indicates the need for increasing engagement to achieve satisfaction.
Escape demonstrates the use of social media to avoid real-life issues, and persistence relates to continued use despite negative consequences.
Withdrawal refers to the discomfort experienced when unable to access social media.
Conflict and problems depict the interpersonal and life issues arising from excessive use, deception involves lying about the time spent, and displacement shows the replacement of significant activities with social media usage.
Each of these items collectively underscores different facets of addiction, making the scale robust and multidimensional. Different patterns of social media addiction are observed across the world due to various socio-cultural, economic, and technological factors.
In developed countries with extensive internet access and high smartphone penetration, the prevalence of social media addiction may be higher, driven by easy access and social norms that emphasize online interaction.
Conversely, in developing nations, where internet infrastructure may be less robust, different patterns might be observed, potentially influenced by local customs, economic conditions, and the availability of alternative recreational activities.
Additionally, cultural attitudes towards mental health and technology use differ globally, shaping how addiction manifests and is perceived. These global variations underscore the importance of contextual factors in understanding social media disorder among adolescents.
The scale based on Internet Gaming Disorder offers a starting point, but it must be adapted to local contexts to enhance its relevance and accuracy. By taking into account regional differences in technology access, cultural attitudes, and social norms, practitioners can develop more effective identification and intervention strategies. This nuanced approach will be crucial in addressing the varied landscape of social media addiction and its impacts on adolescent well-being around the world.
Sources
Van den Erjnden, RJ.J.M., Lemmons, J.S., & Valkensburg P.M. (2016). The Social Media Disorder Scale. Computers in Human Behavior, 61, 478- 487.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbqo7MGVElw